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BTVI announces winners of ‘The Auto Show Car India & Bike India Awards 2018’
MUMBAI: BTVI – India’s premier English business news channel and Next Gen Publishing presented the iconic ‘The Auto Show Car India & Bike India Awards 2018’. The annual award show was designed to celebrate the excellence and diversity in the auto industry and recognize the indomitable spirit of automakers. The evening also witnessed the elite personalities from the corporate world that came together to honour achievers from the automotive sector.
The awards were given across 39 categories to the best and the most deserving contributors to the auto industry. Toyota Safety CSR won ‘CSR of the Year’ and Lexus RX 450H on ‘Green Car of the Year’. In the two-wheeler segment, Honda Grazia won ‘Scooter of the Year’ and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India was awarded ‘Manufacturer of the Year.’ The list of award winners across all categories is captured below.
BTVI, COO, while speaking about the awards, Ms. Megha Tata said, “We are extremely delighted to host ‘The Auto Show Car India & Bike India Awards 2018’ and applaud the role of the automobile sector in driving growth in the Indian economy. These awards have unmatched credibility with the extensive evaluation process and a jury that is the best in the business. As a business news channel, we are proud to undertake initiatives that help our viewers to have an in-depth understanding of the automobile sector.”
The jury panel comprised of experts such as Cyrus Gazdar (Chairman and Managing Director of AFL Group), Navaz Sandhu (Former Rally Driver), Rayomand Banajee (Rayo Racing), Swati Khandelwal Jain (National Corporate Editor & Editor The Auto Show, BTVI), Siddharth Zarabi (Executive Editor, BTVI), H S Billimoria (CEO, Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd.), Aspi Bhathena (Editor, Bike India and Car India), Sarmad Kadiri (Executive Editor, Bike India and Car India), and Jim Gorde (Principal Correspondent, Bike India and Car India).
Catch the special episode on the The Auto Show Car India & Bike India Awards 2018 exclusively on BTVI on 1st March at 10:30 pm and the repeat telecast will be on 3rd and 4th March at 9:30 pm and 1 pm respectively.
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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.
