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CNBC-TV18 announces fifteenth edition of India Business Leader Awards
MUMBAI: Network18’s English business news channel CNBC-TV18 is all set to launch the fifteenth edition of India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) under the theme of the event ‘Leaders of Change’.
The objective of IBLA is to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the country’s most dynamic business leaders and their businesses, which will be hosted on 28 February at Trident in Nariman Point, Mumbai.
The event shall include eminent industry-leaders, policymakers, and change-makers who have contributed towards building a conducive and profitable economy, which will have a captivating confluence of stalwarts and engaging conversations.
The chief guests for the event include dignitaries such as finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das.
Other esteemed guests to grace the occasion include Reliance Industries chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani, HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh, TCS chief executive officer and managing director Rajesh Gopinathan, HUL chief executive officer Sanjiv Mehta, National Stock Exchange managing director and chief executive officer Vikram Limaye, Nykaa, founder and chief executive officer Falguni Nayar, Dharma Productions filmmaker Karan Johar & Indian badminton player Pullela Gopichand amongst others will show their support to the most business awards of the network.
Winners of the prestigious awards were adjudged by an esteemed jury steered by HDFC Bank managing director Aditya Puri. The power Jury comprised minister of state, finance & corporate affairs, Anurag Thakur, and industry veterans Britannia managing director Varun Berry, State Bank of India chairman, Rajnish Kumar, AZB & Partner founder and managing partner Zia Mody, ITC chairman and managing director Sanjiv Puri, and Standard Chartered Bank chief executive officer Zarin Daruwala.
CNBC-TV18 managing editor Shereen Bhan says: “For two decades, CNBC-TV18 has proved to be a leader in its incisive and comprehensive reportage of the economy & business. Since its inception, 15 years ago, the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leaders Awards have recognised excellence, and honoured individuals and corporations for creating value and impact.”
She adds, “This year, as we mark 20 years of CNBC-TV18 & 15 years of IBLA, we will recognise outstanding leaders of the year and also honour leaders of the decade in our IBLA Decadal awards. The finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman and the RBI Governor will preside over a very special evening.”
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.
