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Phase II target of I&B minister for FM Radio may not be met
NEW DELHI: Though India’s information and broadcasting minister Sushma Swaraj would like the second phase of privatisation of FM radio to be completed within the next quarter, bureaucrats feel there may be some hindrances.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com, a senior official of the I&B ministry said, “It’s laudable of the minister to take up so seriously the second phase of FM radio, but there are certain issues which need to be looked into before this is done.”
Pointing out that a final decision, keeping other factors in mind, will rest with the minister only, the official added, “Issues like pending litigation from the first phase of FM radio sector’s opening up will have to be taken into account before the formalities for the rollout for the second phase is completed.”
For the second phase of private FM radio, around 70 cities have been identified. As for AIR FM, around 60 to 65 stations are expected to come up till 2007. At present, there are 234 AIR FM stations in 200-odd cities/towns. Private FM is present in nine cities even as more private FM stations are expected to come up in another six cities, including Delhi.
The ministry official also said that this time round the government might not go in for auctioning of the licences in various cities and evolve some other methods of giving licences.
“Past experience has shown us that auctioning of licences mean bids which at times go very high. Later the players concerned realise they have bid too high and the business model has become unviable. We don’t want a repetition of this as this point had led to quite a few private companies, during the first phase, to move the courts,” he explained.
Swaraj in an interview to indiantelevision.com last weekend had said that as part of her next year’s agenda the government would like to complete the formalities of the second phase of FM radio by 31 March 2003. As reported by us earlier, she had also said that the government is looking at working out a mechanism which would help avoid duplication of efforts by All India Radio and private players in the same geographical area.
“We are looking as to how avoid duplication. In those places where AIR already operates FM stations, we’d probably won’t like the private players to go as they can go to those cities where AIR does not operate FM radio,” Swaraj had said.
Recently Swaraj had stated in Parliament that the government had earned, so far, a total revenue of Rs. 1551.2 million on account of open auction of FM radio stations, which includes earnest money, but excludes bank guarantees lying with the government. Auctioning for licences was held for 40 cities earlier.
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Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
