News Broadcasting
Consumer Electronics Show in the US to host technical Emmies next year
MUMBAI: The International Consumer Electronics Show (Ces) which takes place in Las Vegas each year will host the Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards for the first time next year.
The Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards will be CES’ opening evening event on 8 January 2007. The tradeshow will be held in Las Vegas from 8-11 January 2007 and will celebrate its 40th anniversary.
The technology and engineering Emmy awards honour achievements in two areas. One area is science and technology for television. This includes broadcast, cable and satellite distribution. The second area is advance media technology.
This encompasses interactive television, gaming technology, and for the first time, the Internet, cellphones, private networks, and personal media players. In addition, for the first time, Emmy awards will be presented for the best use of advanced media technology by commercials as well as programmers.
Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) president and CEO Gary Shapiro says, “As Ces becomes a global cultural event featuring the best of technology and content, we are thrilled to partner with the Emmy Awards to announce at Ces the best in science and technology for television.
“For the content, technology and engineering industries, CES is the place to be this January. We look forward to helping promote the world famous Emmy Awards at Ces.”
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Natas) president and CEO Peter Price says, “The International CES has long been the launch pad of entertainment technology. So it is fitting that our Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards, which recognise achievement in both television engineering and advanced media technology be showcased there. With the National Television’s Academy’s new efforts this year to recognise television anytime anywhere with Emmy Awards for content and technology, this move is particularly fitting.”
The National Television Academy is currently accepting entries for the advanced media technology Emmy awards in nine categories. In order to be eligible, the production must occur from 1 May 2005 to 30 April 2006. The entry deadline is 22 September 2006. The advanced media technology entries will be judged by panels of industry professionals in New York later this year.
Among the keynote speakers for the 2007 International CES will be Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, Motorola chairman of the board and CEO Ed Zander, and Disney president and CEO Robert Iger. CES will also feature product debuts from 2,700 exhibitors, covering more than 30 product areas, including the latest in wireless, digital imaging, mobile electronics, home networking and more.
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.
