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PTVs Kashmiri channel stumps India, Doordarshan,
NEW DELHI: At a time when patriotism is being sold as a brand in the run-up to the general elections, neither the Indian government nor the domestic cable operators have heard of it. PTV, the state-controlled broadcaster in Pakistan, has launched a satellite channel, called AZK Channel (Azad Kashmir Channel), to cater to the Kashmiri-speaking populace on both sides of the line of control.
This is just one of the initiatives of the Pakistani government to add to the war of words, though both the countries are attempting at bringing about a semblance of reason in their bilateral peace talks that have, most of the time, got bogged down in jingoism.
Confirming the launch of AZK channel, a PTV official told indiantelevision.com, The channel was launched sometime back and has a mish-mash of programming, including news and current affairs. A PTV team is on a three-day visit to Delhi to participate in a seminar of public service broadcasters in the Asian region.
Since AZK channel is beamed via the Thaicom-3 satellite, its footprints are not confined to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but also cover most parts of India. And PTV has kept this channel free to air so it can be downlinked by cable operators without any hitch.
Compared to the programming that AZK channel dishes out, Doordarshans terrestrially distributed Kashir channel, aimed at the Kashmiri-speaking populace and to counter Pak propaganda, would find it difficult to stand up in a popularity race. Whats more, the Indian government seems to have been caught napping despite the modern tracking and monitoring devices that are claimed to be at the disposal of the security agencies.
Quizzed on the issue, a senior information and broadcasting ministry official today expressed ignorance on the AZK channel and said,Wed have to look into the issue and the type of the programming that is put on air. The cable fraternity expressed similar ignorance. A senior executive of a multi-system operator said , Has PTV started a Kashmir-specific channel? Well, if they have, then it is our national duty not to re-distribute it. We would not. But the fact remains that though the government and metro-centric cable ops have not heard of AZK channel, the chances of the channel being re-distributed by operators in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be ruled out.
What adds gravity to the matter is the fact that though Indian channels, including the likes of Star Plus, Zee TV and Sony, are officially banned in Pakistan, no such ban has been put in place by the Indian government as far as Pakistani television channels are concerned, which are re-distributed by cable ops freely in India and in most parts of the country PTV and PTV World can be viewed easily. Only during the Kargil war, for a short period of time, the Indian government had appealed to the cable ops to stop re-distributing Pakistani channels, which are known for their India-bashing programmes and news and current affairs shows.
AZK Channel apart, PTV is also mulling starting a slew of other channels, predominantly for the domestic population. These include ones dedicated to sports and women. PTV is likely to start in a years time a sports channel as also a channel meant for ladies who remain at home during the day, the PTV official said.
A KU-band DTH service too is in the offing for which a few applications have been received by the Pakistani regulator for broadcasting sector, the PTV official informed
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.
