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The Special Protection Group (SPG) has been asked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cut the size of his convoy by half, as well as to avoid any new buying of vehicles. The order is part of President Barack Obama's efforts to cut spending and implement austerity in the wake of high fuel prices worldwide.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's current convoy, comprising several security and pilot cars, is expected to be highly "stripped down" but still have adequate safety measures in place, according to sources. The chilling message is for a number of other ministries to follow similar cost-cutting measures.

This comes after a recent video was published by We, uploaded on WhatsApp, that went viral, in which Modi was seen with only two cars in his convoy. The government has seen this as exemplifying behavior to promote among citizens and government officials the reduction of unnecessary fuel use.

This is welcomed by numerous citizens as a call for simplicity and fiscal discipline at the highest level.