News Broadcasting
NDTV says on track for end-March launch
NEW DELHI: NDTV’s proposed news channels in Hindi and English are slated to be launched between end-March and early April 2003, according to a senior executive of the Delhi-based production house which is soon to turn into a broadcaster too.
The senior executive of NDTV also clarified that the foreign equity component in the proposal for a news channel, cleared by the Indian government, is FII investment which was made about five years ago.
“The work on the channels (in Hindi and English) is going on fine,” the senior executive of NDTV told indiantelevision.com this morning, adding, “The two channels are expected to be on-air between end-March and early-April.”
According to the executive, the foreign equity of “about 16 per cent”, which Swaraj was referring to, is the FII investment from the “likes of Goldman Sachs made about five years back in NDTV.”
Swaraj had informed the Rajya Sabha yesterday that the government had approved the proposal of New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) to start a 24-hour news channel with a foreign equity component of 16.47 per cent, while the application of Star News Broadcasting is still under process.
Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha that while NDTV’s proposal was cleared in June 2002, Star’s proposal for starting a 24-hour news channel, also to be uplinked from the country, was still under process.
This is the second project by the Rupert Murdoch-controlled Star that is awaiting government approval, the first being the KU-band direct-to-home (DTH) operation in the country.
The government is yet to clear the proposal to start the direct-to-home operation that was submitted in April this year.
“Star News Broadcasting has informed that its head office is in Hong Kong and registered office in British Virgin Islands. The company has three directors – two Americans and one British,” Swaraj told fellow parliamentarians, adding the proposed channel would be indirectly owned by News Corporation Ltd.
She also pointed out that Jain Studios’ news channel is 20 per cent foreign owned, while in Zee News foreign holding is 57.54 per cent. The latter uplinks from India from its studio on the outskirts of New Delhi.
The minister said the proposal of NDTV to start a 24-hour news channel, which will be uplinked from India, was cleared in June this year while those of Jain Studios and Zee Telefilms were cleared last year.
According to the present norms all satellite channels irrespective of their ownership, equity structure or management control are at present permitted to uplink from India.
Swaraj had earlier said that she plans to take the proposal by the Rupert Murdoch – promoted Star to start a 24-hour news channel in India for the consideration of the Union Cabinet.
The decision was taken as the ministry feels that there is a need for a greater consensus before a decision is taken on the issue.
Star had sought the government’s clearance in October this year to start a new channel in the country, as its five-year contract with NDTV to generate news and current affairs content in India comes to an end on 31 March, 2003.
News Broadcasting
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.
