No plans for a lockdown in the country: Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday (March 27, 2026) that the Centre is active and responding to the rapidly changing situation in the country as a result of the war in West Asia. She urged certain political leaders to stop fearmongering and said, “The government has no plans to impose a lockdown.”

Replying to a debate on the second Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill, both of which were returned after a voice vote, Ms. Sitharaman said neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh have announced lockdowns, restricting movements and public events. “We are not doing this. But rumours are being spread by some leaders that there will be a lockdown. There is no plan for a lockdown in India. These leaders must stop spreading rumours. They are engaging in rumourmongering to create panic among the public. Lockdown is in Pakistan, not in India,” the Finance Minister said.

She said among its neighbourhood countries, India is maintaining a level of stability. “At no circumstances, there will not be any pressure on the public. The positive message to the public is to face this situation in a united manner. The government is active and responding to the rapidly changing situation,” she said after Opposition MPs raised issues of cooking fuel shortage across the country and the plight of Indian migrant workers in West Asia.

Maintaining that international crude oil prices have surged within a month of the West Asia conflict, she said, “consumer prices of petrol and diesel increased all over the world, and in Southeast Asian nations, the increase is 30 to 50%.”

The Minister said that while fuel prices are 30% higher in North America, the increase is 20% in Europe and 50% in African countries since the beginning of the conflict. “We are managing carefully. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked us that there should not be any burden on the citizens of India. That’s the guidance given to me.” She said and announced that the government has issued a notification cutting excise duty on petrol from ₹13 to ₹3 per litre, and the excise duty on diesel was removed entirely.

“Petrol and retail prices remain unchanged,” she said, adding that as a result of the measure, oil companies will buy more and will keep the supply uninterrupted. “The volatility of cost and supply constraints will not hit the ordinary citizens. Price will remain unchanged for the citizens,” she assured the House.

Answering questions on unemployment, she said the government is creating jobs and it has resulted in distribution of 11 lakh appointment letters publicly. “We are not picking up land to give jobs,” she said in an apparent reference to the alleged land for jobs scam involving RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav. “All vacancies are publicly laid out and there is no hide and seek,” she said.

On the new standard of GDP numbers, she said it was a routine exercise in the government. “It goes systematically,” she said, citing nine such revisions since Independence. “This happens every 10 years. This is a process of governance,” she said, and added that it was not for belittling the predecessor government.

“The base is scientifically tested and statistically proven,” she said, adding that data has now become comprehensive, vibrant, and true to the time. “The new GDP series is reviewed by many peers of the Indian economy,” she added.

Countering an argument raised by DMK MP P. Wilson, she said under the gender budget, the overall allocation increased from ₹4.49 lakh crore in 2025-26 Budget estimates to to ₹5.02 lakh crore in 2026-27. “The allocation is 38% higher than the actuals of 2024-25,” she said.