News Broadcasting
Doordarshan is to run a special news bulletin titled ‘Ram Ki Paidi’
Mumbai: Meticulous arrangements are being made for the smooth and successful conduct of the consecration ceremony of the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya Dham, being held on 22 January 2024. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will perform the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ as per prescribed rituals. It is expected that more than 8,000 guests will visit the temple on this day, followed by lakhs of devotees from 23 January onwards.
Live Telecast
Elaborate arrangements have been made for a LIVE telecast of the ceremony. The entire event would be live-telecast in 4K quality by Doordarshan, on DD News and DD National channels. On 23 January 2024, Doordarshan will do a LIVE telecast of Aarti and the Opening of Shree Ram Temple for the public.
Doordarshan shall share the clean feed of the event in Ayodhya on 22 January 2024 with ANI TV and PTI Video. All TV channels which are subscribers to the agency can obtain feed from there.
For other National and International broadcasters, a YouTube link with a key to a clean feed will be generated. This link will be shared with the concerned broadcasters upon their request. In order to obtain the YouTube link, domestic broadcasters may place their request with the Press Information Bureau. International TV Channels would need to place their request directly with Prasar Bharati. Contact details are available in the PIB Media Advisory, which can be accessed here.
Channels also have the option of patching to DD News, in case a clean feed is not required. Courtesy may be given to Doordarshan in this case. PIB will issue photographs and press releases of the event, in English, Hindi, and Indian state languages.
Ayodhya Media Centre
A Media Centre is being set up at Ram Katha Sangrahalay in Ayodhya with limited capacity, where large LED TVs will be set up to facilitate viewing of the telecast. The Media Centre will be equipped with a Wi-Fi facility for media persons to file their stories.
Portal for Media Passes
The media organizations desirous of covering the event from Ayodhya may apply through PIB’s centralized portal, latest by 6 p.m., 17 January 2024; based on which security passes will be issued, through state administration. The portal can be accessed here.
Special Programmes by Doordarshan
Besides the live telecasts, Doordarshan is running a Special News Bulletin titled Ram Ki Paidi (राम की पैडी)) during 1 January – 15, 2024. From 5 P.M. -8 P.M., there will be a special live programme titled “श्री राम अयोध्या आये हैं” (Shri Ram Ayodhya Aaye Hain) which will include daily Ayodhya round-up, guest discussions, special stories, and vox-pop.
Health Facilities
Efforts are being made to make information on medical care facilities at Ayodhya available on the website of the local administration in Ayodhya and the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, in order to facilitate people in getting adequate medical assistance. A team has been sent from JPNA Trauma Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi to impart training to around 200 health workers in Ayodhya from January 12 – 15, 2024.
The government of India is likely to establish a Bhishm Emergency Response facility at Ayodhya during the Pran Pratishta ceremony and allied programmes.
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.
