News Broadcasting
Around Rs 12.5 cr spent on flagship promotional programmes till now for 2013-14
NEW DELHI: The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has spent a sum of Rs 12.48 crore during 2013-14 so far on promotional shorts publicising the flagship programmes of the government.
I&B Minister Manish Tewari said that a sum of Rs 103.203 crore had been spent on similar promotional shorts during 2012-13.
The Minister was answering questions after unveiling a comprehensive multi-media initiative “Glimpses of the India Story” – Phase II intended to capture the journey of India’s development through various programmes and policies launched by the government during the last ten years. The first phase was unveiled in May and was actively run from 14 May to 4 June.
The first phase of the ‘India Story’ informed the people about the initiatives taken by the government during the recent years and the tangible benefits that had accrued in sectors such as education, health, telecom, rural and urban infrastructure. In the second phase, a 360 degree communication model has been adopted across media platforms focusing on the new initiatives of the government and the upcoming reforms aimed at improving the lives of the common people.
Giving figures, the Minister said the figure in 2007-08 was Rs 17.87 crore, Rs 46.92 crore in 2008-09, Rs 35.08 crore in 2009-10, Rs 48.48 crore in 2010-11, and Rs 87.78 crore in 2011-12.
He said that the social media was also being used in a major way and ‘content agnostic platforms would be created’.
He claimed that the second phase comprising around ten shorts was rights-based, and had also referred to certain rights that the government had planned for and which were pending in Parliament. The objective of the current phase of the India story is not only to communicate the benefits of the reforms, but to develop a sense of ownership for these initiatives among the people.
The multimedia initiative would be put across on traditional, print, outdoor publicity, special outreach programmes focusing on new media platforms with the objective of informing and apprising the public of the new policy initiatives undertaken by the government recently. For the print and visual media, the content is being developed in 11 languages.
The Ministry has adopted a 360 degree multi-media approach concentrating on six broad themes. Creatives have been developed highlighting the broad features of each of these initiatives. The print media initiative would be covering 539 newspapers across the country which would include regional papers, small and medium papers as well as the dominant groups at the national level.
The outdoor publicity has been planned in 195 cities/towns with 750 sites. Besides this, 216 private FM Stations and prominent TV channels in the news and general entertainment segment would also be covering the Glimpses of India Story.
In the second phase, the various shorts have used Priya as a key figure communicating the intent of the government, while some creatives on the Right to Information had used a look-alike of cartoonist R K Laxman’s ‘Commonn Man’.
For the first time, a special video for the theme song “Meelon Hum Aa Gaye, Meelon Humien Jana Hai” has been developed. The video highlights the need to continue on the path ahead to ensure that the country has able to achieve high economic growth as well as social equity. A key highlight of the audio visual content will also be the special song on “National Integration” of two minute duration focusing on India’s innate strength in “Unity in Diversity”.
The India Story during the second phase will also be positioned on the New media platforms. The focus of attention would be to reach out the younger audience who use this medium on a 24×7 basis. Within the ambit of social media, content would be loaded on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Blog. A dedicated portal highlighting the India story is being developed to provide content/updates on all relevant issues related to the dissemination and outreach programme.
Rural communication would also be one of the corner stones of the current phase of the India Story. Press Information Bureau, through its Public Information Campaigns (PICs) would be taking the message of the new initiatives to the grass roots. PIB is planning 106 Public Information Campaigns (PICs) during the financial year 2013-14. For this initiative, PIB has designed specific content in the form of booklets covering the new initiatives of the government.
The Song and Drama Division and Directorate of Field Publicity would be integrating their efforts for enhancing the outreach to the rural areas through PICs and vertical programmes across the country. The Song and Drama Division would be organizing five Jamunia Programmes concurrently with PICs and 144 other shows based on rural folk culture and theatrical formats within the next two months. Directorate of Field Publicity will be organizing programmes in 195 towns/cities within the next two months.
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.
