News Broadcasting
Channels line up special shows this Republic Day
MUMBAI: This Republic Day too, it is not different. To bring the nation their best mix of patriotism and entertainment, channels are trying everything possible. Lined up across the television space are a slew of special programmes. A look at what channels are doing to celebrate 26 January.
Kiddy channel Cartoon Network’s Megatoon Movie will celebrate Republic Day on 26 January by featuring back-to-back animated movies through the day beginning 9 am. Premiering at 12 pm on the Republic Day will be the movie Quest For Camelot which portrays the glorious deeds of brave knights living in the countryside. The Network will also conduct on-air contest while airing Quest for Camelot. Further, the Network will also air Tom & Jerry – The Movie, the New Scooby Doo Movies and The Batman movies on the Republic Day.
Hungama will telecast children’s Hindi movie Jajantaram Mamantaram on at 5 pm. On the special occasion, the channel will also announce a mega prize for its ongoing Kids Ka Kamaal contest. The luckiest of the lot will win a diamond set by watching the mega movie. Jajantaram Mamantaram famously known as J2M2 has 63 minutes of special effects, which have, been tried for the first time in India, the record for the longest special effects is 67 minutes, this is sure to keep everyone on the edge of their seat. Directed by Soumitra Ranade, J2M2 is based on the old Gujarati fable ‘ Bakasur’ which tells about a sleeping giant who only gets up to eat small people.
Walt Disneys classic storytelling heritage comes alive on Disney Channel with the telecast of one of worlds best loved animated features The Jungle Book on 26 January at 7 pm. The feature will be telecast as a part of Disney channels daily feature film destination, Disney Channel Movies.
Nick will showcase a special show Jimmy Neutron: Rescue Jet Fusion at 9 am with a repeat at 5 pm. In the show, Jimmy is enlisted as a spy by the Big Top Secret Organization. His mission is to find and rescue Agent X. When Agent X turns out to be Jimmy’s movie hero, Jet Fusion (and a super spy off the big screen as well), Jimmy and Jet team up to save the world from the nefarious Professor Calamitous and his beautiful, gorgeous daughter, Beautiful Gorgeous.
Star’s movie channel Star Gold commemorates the eventful day with a whole week devoted to showing patriotic movies from 24 January to 28 January in the Ek Baje Ek Break (movies with just one break!) slot called, Swades Special. In this special slot, on the Republic Day, the channel will showcase Ajay Devgan – Abhishek Bachchan starrer Zameen.
English movie channel HBO is telecasting Maid in Manhattan at 4:00 pm, Assassins at 6:15 pm and The Glass House at 9 pm.
Sahara One will telecast Amitabh starrer Dev at 8:30 pm on 26 January. Movies from the Zee stable include the patriotic saga LOC at 2 pm on Zee TV and Bombay in Zee Cinema at 7:30 pm.
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.
