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Times Network launches 2nd edition of Living Room Conclave – India Health Mission
Mumbai: Times Network has announced the second edition of Living Room Conclave – India Health Mission, a conclave series that will focus on combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
As India moves ahead while battling the cruel second wave, it is pertinent to continue following the safety protocols and avert the threat of a possible third wave. Addressing these imminent challenges through a course of discussions with eminent figures, who are at the epicentre of the pandemic management, India Health Mission will air from 19 June, every Saturday at 6.30 pm on TIMES NOW & TIMES NOW WORLD and at 7:30 pm on ET NOW.
The five-part series will feature key stakeholders from healthcare and health ministry including Cipla MD & CEO Umang Vohra, The Calcutta Medical Research Institute director & HOD, Pulmonology Dr. Raja Dhar, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation director & chief Dr. V Mohan, Gleneagles Global Hospital – Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Chennai director Dr. Subramanian Swaminathan, amongst others.
The launch episode will witness a special panel discussion on India’s Vaccine Roll Out with B Medical Deputy CEO Jesal Doshi, Nephron Clinic Chairman Prof. Dr. Sanjeev Bagai and Neuberg CMD Dr. GSK Velu.
Times Network MD & CEO MK Anand said, “The catastrophic COVID-19 second wave has led to a dramatic loss of human lives and presented immense challenges to a strained medical infrastructure. As the country stabilizes with measures including accelerated nationwide vaccination drive and gradual unlocking of States, it is critical to stay focused and brace ourselves to combat possible new waves. Focusing on Covid-19 pandemic preparedness, India Health Mission, is an initiative to empower citizens with critical health and safety advisories through discussions with key stakeholders from the healthcare sector and the health ministry.”
Led by Times Network’s leading news anchors, India Health Mission will cover all the critical questions related to COVID-19 and offer important updates to the viewers including steps required to preventing the virus from spreading, vaccination drives, unlock phase across cities, key measures undertaken by the government to combat the situation and how we can prevent the third wave.
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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.
