News Broadcasting
CNBC and ICICI hold ‘Emerging India Forum’ in Mumbai
MUMBAI: CNBC TV18 and ICICI Bank have come together to host a unique initiative called The ‘Emerging India Forum’ for the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector.
The aim of this forum is to provide a platform for the SMEs to discuss ways and means to capture opportunities in the present global scenario as well as air their grievances to the government and the relevant audiences.
This forum was held on 2 August in Mumbai and had a host of personalities relevant to the SME space where they discussed various issues related to the growth of SME enterprises in India.
The speakers at the forum were ICICI Bank head retail business V Vaidyanathan, Naishad Parekh (currently on the board of Arvind Mills), All India Small Drug Manufacturers Association president S R Vaidya, CII (Western Region) chairman Gaurav Nanavati and Apparel Export Promotion Council vice chairman Premal Udhani.
CNBC – TV 18 CEO Haresh Chawla said, “SMEs have always been the engine of growth in developing as well as in transition economies. Their role in building a solid industrial base can be gauged from the fact that they represent over 80 percent of industrial enterprises in most developing countries. Keeping in line with their endeavor to initiate dialogue between the industry and decision makers, CNBC-TV18 has this year provided a platform for various small and medium enterprises to voice their opinions.”
After agriculture, SMEs are high on banks’ investment list. Attractive returns of around eight per cent to 10 per cent have prompted banks to redesign schemes catering to SMEs. ICICI Bank head retail business V Vaidyanathan said, “ICICI Bank has made significant investments in corporate and consumer banking. We are keenly focused on lending to the SME sector. The need of the hour is to define which enterprises fall under the purview of SMEs to enable us to serve them better.”
Commenting on ICICI Bank’s tie-up with CNBC-TV 18, ICICI Bank Small Enterprises Group head Vijay Chandok said, “This association of ICICI Bank and CNBC TV-18 will charter a new regime for the SME segment. This campaign will give the segment the exposure it always deserved and a platform to strategise for sustenance and growth of the SMEs in the post-2005 era.”
The Emerging India initiative – Gearing up for Growth – will later culminate into an awards ceremony to felicitate the most deserving SMEs in different categories in October 2004. As part of the initiative, eminent small and medium scale entrepreneurs and enterprises will be profiled in an ongoing televised series.
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.
