News Broadcasting
Prasar Bharati’s DD Network sees a decline in its gross unique viewership
Mumbai: Prasar Bharati has overall maintained the same position in their genres vis-a-vis private channels in the last three years, as per Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) ratings. As per BARC data for the subscribed DD channel, the gross unique viewership across the network for the past three years has declined and for the current year (till the second week of July i.e. upto week 28) has reached 633 million. The I&B minister Anurag Thakur informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Public sector broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s Doordarshan (DD) Network’s gross unique viewership in 2021 was at 684 million as compared to 2020, which was at 747 million views. A total of 760 million views were registered in 2019, as per the BARC’s TV viewership data. This viewership data is also for DD News and DD India till 2 October 2020 and between December 2021 & March 2022.
Currently, the government is taking corrective measures to increase the viewership of DD channels. It is focusing on improving the quality of programmes and providing relevant content to the viewers.
In response to a question on whether the government is improving the quality of programmes telecast on the Doordarshan and facing competition from the private TV channels, the minister said, “Prasar Bharati is the public broadcaster and its primary duty is to carry out public broadcasting services to inform, educate and entertain the public and to ensure a balanced development of broadcasting on radio and television. Its purpose is not solely commercial but to reach those areas where no private broadcaster would venture.”
The minister added, “Doordarshan is committed to quality content and has accordingly taken several steps to produce and acquire high-quality programmes for its network.”
He mentioned that Doordarshan has also launched the ‘Content Sourcing Portal’ for submission of suo-moto proposals under the Direct Assignment Process (DAP) by production houses. Doordarshan Kendras across the country are upgraded with the introduction of the latest equipment video walls for quality production. The quality of program production, post-production and broadcast has improved with modernization and upgradation.
Mentioning the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme, Thakur said that the public broadcaster was allocated a total of Rs 593 crore under the scheme out of which the total expenditure was Rs 653 crore. The fund was used for the modernisation and augmentation of the capital infrastructure of Doordarshan and for improving the quality of transmission & programmes.
In the financial year 2021-22, Prasar Bharati was allocated a fund of Rs 175 crore out of which the expenditure was Rs 162 crore. A total of Rs 183 crore was allocated in the financial year 2020-21 and the expenditure was Rs 202 crore. However, the allocated fund was Rs 234 crore in the financial year 2019-20 with an expenditure of Rs 289 crore.
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.
