News Broadcasting
DD News to get another make-over
NEW DELHI: Well, well! Doordarshan News, the channel that was relaunched late last year, is getting another face-lift as the country gets into the general elections mode.
A The new look, , to be effective from 2 February, would include a slightly modified logo, new graphics, montage and several brand new shows. And giving finishing touches to the makeover is the Noida-based Beehive Systems, which has clients like CNBC TV 18.
Being the only surviving bilingual news channel in operation at present — Star News gave up this slot to become an all-Hindi channel — DD News would be introducing a half hour `dynamic wheel with news on the hour every hour in Hindi, interspersed with English news bulletins every half hour.
The Headline News will be repeated in the middle, which ensures that no headline news is more than 15 minutes away.
The new programme schedule has been drawn up with flexibility as the core word, though it has to be seen whether the strategy succeeds, according to Prasar Bharati, which manages DD and All India Radio. The focus will be on bringing as many events live as possible.
Ever since its launch, DD News has been having a good run on the viewership chart. Being a terrestrial-cum-satellite channel, it quickly managed to corner 61 percent viewership in all-TV homes.
Known more for being a dull and drab government mouthpiece and less for good packaging and racy presentation, DD News, however, surprised critics by emerging the second most watched channel after Aaj Tak, in the fiercely competitive C & S (cable and satellite) homes. Over the last few weeks, DD News has moved down to third position among 15 + viewers in C & S homes, but Prasar Bharati officials expect the situation to change , again, for the better as it unveils a slew of new programming and packaging initiatives.
The new shows being introduced are as following:
* A bilingual new breakfast show, to be anchored by Sanjiv Paliwal, Anisha Nayyar, Kartikeya Sharma and Ume Qul Sum. Politics and business will be part of it, but the main focus will be on entertainment, lifestyle, sports and international news.
– Chunav Ki Halchal : This programme is already on air at 10.30 p.m. in place of a sponsored programme of Rajat Sharma, which has since discontinued.
– Jan Vaani : A Sunday interactive talk show featuring a celebrity guest with invited audience and phone-ins and SMS inputs. With election fever gripping the country, the guests would be mostly politicians from different walks of life.
– Chhoti Moti Batein : Another programme aimed at a specific target audience, the youth between 18-20 years, who are going to vote for the first time in their lives. This will be an edutainment show aimed at creating political consciousness among the youth and air in the evening on Saturdays and Sundays.
– Kahi Unkahi (Said Unsaid) : Addresses issues concerning minority communities on Sunday afternoons. This programme will be broadcast on DD National also.
– Rajya Nama : Another election-oriented programme, where poll scenario is dissected and analysed state by state during weekdays at 7 pm.
– Global Challenges : A programme on international affairs hosted by journalist Arati Jerath. The programme is supported by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Other popular programmes like Rangtarang (culture round up) and Sports Talk would continue to be on air after a revamp, including a new montage and better packaging.
With more people from Aaj Tak channel joining DD News (subse tez channel’s news director Uday Shankar would join Star News some time in February after a break from Aaj Tak), the pubcaster is gearing up to cover general elections in a big way.
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.
