News Broadcasting
BBC World News eyes general election with India Direct
MUMBAI: With election process on in some of the Indian states, the domestic news channels have already got enough in their plates to report on. Now, with the general election on the anvil, while the channels in the home turf are all ready to report on it, it seems global giant BBC World News also doesn’t want to miss the big event. With a new series, India Direct, it is also looking to make the best of the opportunity.
BBC Global News CEO Jim Egan launched the series on Tuesday in Mumbai. He says the series will be a mix of hardcore news and features with Indian emphasis on their regular bulletins. “India Direct will be showcased at a time when the attention is likely to be on India more so because of the general elections,” says Egan.
The series that is slated to go on air from 8 February 2014 and will go on for two weeks will have a slew of election special programmes.
Other shows in the series would include Working Lives that will showcase the diverse culture of Gujarat, its people and and the economic spectrum of the state. One Square Mile will highlight the game of football in Pune FC. Talking Movies will bring to the fore the culture and art of the country, especially regional movies. Fast: Track will be a travel news show displaying various places like Mumbai, Goa, Ahmedabad, Karnataka etc.
“The shows are for our global audiences and not just our audiences in India,” emphasises Egan.
Egan feels that although globalisation is a modern trend, BBC has been on the mission of bringing latest events that are impartial and independent from across the world since almost 90 years. It is also looking at multimedia very seriously.
BBC has done similar series earlier as well with a focus on countries like Singapore, Vietnam, Mozambique, Croatia, Canada, Georgia, Ecuador and Qatar.
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.
