News Broadcasting
Avanish Kumar takes charge of government digital business at NDTV
NEW DELHI: NDTV has named Avanish Kumar as head of digital business (government), tasking him with leading its engagement with ministries, departments, PSUs and state bodies at a time when government advertising and campaigns are becoming increasingly digital.
Kumar joins from the India Today group, where he spent more than two years as chief manager of government business. There he managed the Business Today “Multiverse” – spanning the magazine, businesstoday.in and BTTV – with a sharp focus on monetising digital assets, building state and central government associations, and positioning the brand as media partner for investor summits and public events. He also worked directly with political parties to craft campaign solutions across platforms.
Before India Today, Kumar was head of media marketing at Bharat Prakashan, publisher of Organiser and Panchjanya, where he managed pan-India teams and drove digital and content-marketing strategies for clients. He earlier served as business head at Flame Advertising, handling PSU and BFSI accounts, and was instrumental in developing government activations across radio, print, digital and cinema.
Kumar cut his teeth in the private-sector media houses. At Hindustan Times, he generated advertising revenue across print, digital and radio while monetising flagship events such as the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Mint Energy Conclave and HT Palate Festival. At The Hindu, he focused on government features, supplements and sponsorship deals, working with ministries on campaigns such as “Incredible India”. His early years were spent at Nava Bharat, liaising with ministries and advertising agencies for media plans.
Across these roles, Kumar has built a reputation as a government-business specialist with deep relationships across ministries, state information departments, investment boards and advertising agencies. His skill set blends digital marketing, media sales and event monetisation – areas critical for broadcasters and publishers as government spending increasingly shifts from print to online.
At NDTV, Kumar’s brief is clear: maximise public-sector partnerships, align with government communication priorities, and grow digital revenues. His appointment comes as NDTV, part of the Adani group, looks to strengthen its foothold in digital news while navigating a fiercely competitive and politically sensitive landscape.
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.
