News Broadcasting
Bharat24’s attempt towards becoming a national news channel for an emergent India
Mumbai: Bharat24, the latest entrant amongst the Hindi news channels, is all set to pave way for new commencements in this market with its path-breaking news reportage. It aims to lead the national news scene and become the ‘Voice of India’ focusing on a credible first-to-report content strategy for the channel.
As a news organisation, Bharat24 is striving to act as a bridge between the government and its people to provide them with transparent and right information. With the aim of setting a high benchmark for news reporting, the channel has put in place a strong network of 4000+ reporters (one reporter in each of India’s 4000 constituencies) and bureaus in all major states across India. It has set up a news control room with dedicated hotlines for seamless news gathering from its reporter network and news agencies. While it is observed that most national Hindi news channels focus on two or three states, Bharat24’s network strength has enabled it to focus on all Indian states, equally.
Bharat24 has allotted 30 per cent of its screen to the news flash bands highlighting the significant 15-20 news stories from each state, mapping Twitter updates of prominent personalities in each state, international news events, etc. adding up to 1000+ news stories.
In comparison to the silos of conventional set-ups, Bharat24 targets to be a disruptor news brand and has created an integrated news environment for the seamless broadcast of news. The channel has blurred the lines between the departments of input, assignment and output and the same teams remain vigilant across all aspects of news from news gathering to breaking it to the viewers.
Within a short span of time, Bharat24 has also gained phenomenal advertiser support. It has roped in more than 35 clients within a month from launch – Amul, Policy Bazaar, Muthoot Finance, Reliance Retail, Kelvinator, R-pure masale, Jio Mart, Ankur Salt, JSW Paints, Wonder Cement, FOGG, BL Agro, Rajesh Masala, Rajdhani Besan, JK Cement, Suhana Masale, to name a few.
While speaking about the channel’s strategy, Bharat24 chief business officer and strategic advisor to the board Manoj Jagyasi added, “Our intention is to improve the viewer engagement and experience of TV news consumption. I am delighted with the positive response that Bharat24 has been generating since its launch. The channel has resonated well with viewers and advertisers alike. It is a matter of great pride the channel was launched with many credible advertisers.”
Inspite of being a late entrant in the news scene, the channel is at par with its competitors and is grasping the quickly changing market dynamics by adapting new-age technologies. Bharat24 boasts to be the first to introduce augmented reality (AR) enabled studios which enable the channel to deliver clean, clutter-free enhanced audio-visual content on-air. The channel also operates on the latest broadcast technology.
Bharat24 is well distributed across all major DTH, online and cable networks.
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.
