News Broadcasting
BBC World to flag off Indo-Pak season on Friday
MUMBAI: Taking a cue from the recent surge in track-two diplomacy between India and Pakistan, BBC World has lined up a series of special programmes in an effort to examine the present relationship between the two countries and the history behind their love-hate bond.
Focusing on the current political and religious climate in the two countries, the special India Pakistan season is slated to be a showcase of documentaries, debates, profiles and other programmes.
“Given the continued diplomatic moves to thaw relations between India and Pakistan, we thought it timely to screen this special season of groundbreaking programmes, which examine the history of the two nations and look at the present state of their relationship,” says BBC World commissioning editor Narendhra Morar.
The season kicks off this Friday, 22 August with a special edition of Question Time India (QTI) presented by Vikram Chandra of NDTV. Coming from Srinagar for the first time ever, this edition will discuss the issues facing the Kashmiri people.
Two more special editions of QTI are slated for Friday, 29 August and Friday, 5 September. While the second edition debates the growing divide between the secularists and the Hindu nationalists, for the third special edition, BBC World is deviating from its regular format to have key politicians and commentators from Pakistan answer questions from an Indian audience in New Delhi.
Also lined up are documentaries such as Mullah Power. The documentary presented by Zubeida Malek, traces the growth and influence of Islam and the mullahs over the past half-century. She examines how the religious coalition that controls Northwest Frontier Province will now use its power and asks whether the West should be concerned that radical Islamic parties, having won major political victories last year in Pakistan, are now the second largest block in the national assembly. Mullah Power airs on 23 August at 1am and 4pm, on 24 August at 12pm, on 25 August at 2am and 7pm, on 26 August at 10pm, and on 27 August at 6am and 1pm.
Exploring the rise of Hindu nationalism in India is another documentary presented by Sir Mark Tully, Hindu Nation. Through the documentary, Mark Tully investigates the political belief that a violently polarised election can yield good electoral results. It airs on 23 August at 7:40pm and on 24 August at 2:40am, 2:40pm and 11:40pm.
Again in Kashmir: Paradise Lost, Tully examines the history of the disputed Kashmir territory. Looking at the unsuccessful attempts at peace, he asks why political leaders appear to be at a standoff. It airs on 30 August at 7:40pm and on 31 August at 2:40am, 2:40pm, and 11:40pm.
BBC World’s India-Pakistan Season also includes Pervez Musharraf: Profile, an in-depth look at the life of the Pakistani President, featuring commentary from his friends and enemies, as well as the President himself. Profile is slated to be aired on 30 August at 1am and 4pm, 31 August at 12pm, 1 September at 2am and 7pm, 2 September at 10pm, and on 3 September at 6am and 1pm.
The season closes with the debate titled India & Pakistan: Partners or Rivals? where BBC World presenter Kirsty Lang discusses the relationship between the two nuclear powers with leading thinkers from politics, business and the arts. The debate airs on 30 August at 1:40pm and 5:40pm, and on 31 August at 12:40am and 8:40pm.
With a fortnight of special programming up its sleeve, BBC World is all set to cash in on the hot and cold Indo-pak situation.
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.
