News Broadcasting
Aaj Tak all geared up for the upcoming budget
MUMBAI: All eyes are glued on the UPA government and its forthcoming budget. To keep abreast with the happenings as well as to mark the run-up to the Union Budget 2004, Aaj Tak has drawn a comprehensive programming schedule which has been on air since 26 June.
The master-branding for Aaj Tak’s complete budget-related programming is Suniye Vitt Mantri Ji. This includes live reactions with the man on the street from various locations across the country at 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm, interviews with industry leaders, analysis of the various budget-related issues apart from the reactions of the various political parties at 6:30 and 10:30 pm with a repeat telecast the next day at 8:15 am.
To highlight the needs and apprehensions of the general family, Aaj Tak has introduced a special segment called Sharmaji Ka Khandaan. This is the most important segment in the budget programming on Aaj Tak. This programme focuses on a real middle-class Delhi-based family, and based on its interview with the various members of the family, the channel depicts the aspirations and apprehensions of the middle class Indian family. Various other segments will focus on the wish-list of different sectors like industries, trade, union, farmers, markets, etc thus capturing the shift in policy and aspirations from the UPA government.
The budget day programming would comprise live coverage of the finance minister P Chidambaram’s speech followed by expert comments, and panel discussions focusing on the stock market investors, the political economy and the different segments of the society.
Aaj Tak has also drawn a comprehensive programming schedule around the railway budget. Focusing on India’s life-line, Rail kA Khel will be a run-up to the railway budget. Aaj Tak already has two programmes Kitne Late Hai Train and Ghar Ghar Jati Rail on air under the umbrella branding. These programmes focus on various topics related to the railways and its operations. Each of these segments are of five minutes duration and provide critical analysis on various issues like technology, safety, speed, crime, efficiency, facilitation and services, etc.
On 6 July, the day’s programming would be devoted to the railway budget and will be live from 11 am. Christened Laloo Ki Rail, the coverage includes a live chat on the budget from all zonal headquarters of the Indian Railways, with special reference to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna and Lucknow. In the evening, Aaj Tak will air an in-depth analysis of the railway budget and its implications on the rail travelers. This would be followed by an interview with the railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav. The railway programming will conclude with a live audience interaction with Yadav and former railway ministers Nitish Kumar, CK Jafar Sharif and Suresh Kalmadi and will be aired live from one of the make-shift studios being prepared by Aaj Tak at one of the railway stations in Delhi.
Speaking on the budget-related programming TV Today Network’s spokesperson Rajesh Sheshadri said, “As a channel for the masses it would be our endeavor to provide the common man’s perspective as well as the implication of the budget on the masses.”
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.
