News Broadcasting
Awaaz gets into over-drive mode, lines up five shows
MUMBAI: Consumer business news channel Awaaz, CNBC TV18’s new sibling, is going into over-drive with some new programming initiatives. The channel has lined up a total of five shows that will be unleashed in the course of this month.
Keeping in line with the basic positioning of the channel, the shows to be launched will help viewers make better decisions on investing, saving and spending wisely. Apart from that, with shows touching on genres like health and fitness and the entertainment industry; the newly launched channel also hopes to widen its viewership base, apart from being more interactive.
To begin with, the channel has lined up Glamour Bazaar (3 April at 12.30 pm) a weekly show that offers updates on the entertainment business. Segments in the show include Filmi Karobar (the business of film making in India), Filmi Chaat (Bollywood snippets) and Ek Mulaqat (a one – to – one with a Bollywood bigwig).
The second week will see the launch of two shows, Parda Faash and Tax Guru. A weekly show, Parda Faash (Saturdays 10.30 am) will track economic/corporate crime and violation of consumer rights. The show will have hard-hitting stories that will be followed by a discussion aimed at helping consumers / investors to fight back. The other show Tax Guru will have tax expert Subhas Lakhotia answering call-in queries by viewers.
Towards the end of the month, the channel will have Jiyo Zindagi, a weekly health and lifestyle show with inputs from leading experts in the medical profession and Chalti Ka Nam Gadi, a weekly guide to the world of automobiles, from buying guides to availability of after sales services available in the two, three and four wheeler industry.
Explaining the thought behind the shows, Awaaz marketing head Ajay Chacko says, “We hope to reach out to newer audiences with these shows. The aim is also to capture the women TG as well as the younger non-metro audiences with shows like Jiyo Zindagi. Then, shows like Glamour Bazaar give an inside view of the working of the entertainment industry which is definitely a value add for consumers.”
As of now, the three-month old channel broadly focuses on programs related to personal finance and markets, guidance on careers, education and consumer based programming which will help them make more intelligent choices.
Shedding further light on the channel’s programming, Awaaz editor Sanjay Pugalia says, “The aim is to address the needs of the consumer. Apart from this, the overall treatment of the shows is very interactive.”
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.
