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Dr S Jaishankar’s most significant interview to NDTV’s editor-in-chief Sanjay Pugalia
Mumbai: As India gears up for the grand finale of a successful G20 presidency, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar sat down for an engaging and in-depth conversation with NDTV editor-in-chief Sanjay Pugalia at NDTV’s G20 Conclave. In a room full of diplomats, foreign policy watchers and senior NDTV journalists, minister Jaishankar described India’s G20 Presidency as a game-changer. He said the country that commands respect today in the world is India. The minister added that under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi, India has taken G20 out of the conference rooms to the people. Dr Jaishankar expressed confidence of an outcome at the Summit.
On the latest China irritant of putting out a map claiming Aksai chin as its territory, the Minister said that this is China’s old habit. Describing the move as absurd, Dr Jaishankar said that India today is very clear about what territories it needs to defend. He reiterated that the area is an integral part of India.
In the same vein, the minister spoke of Pakistan, saying that no one invests in a ‘losing stock’. Dr Jaishankar also called the abrogation of article 370 one of the most significant achievements of the Modi Government and asked naysayers to go to Lal Chowk in Srinagar to see the difference for themselves. He hit out at previous governments for playing politics over Kashmir.
With India emerging as the voice of the Global South, the minister said that India has forwarded its agenda at G20. He said that India is the bridge between the North, South, East & West, today.
Praising PM Modi, the External Affairs minister said that he is a very curious person and has deep knowledge of global politics. He said that Prime Minister Modi’s single-line message to President Putin, that now is not the time for war, conveyed the world’s sentiment.
Dr Jaishankar described the success of Chandrayaan-3 as an example of India’s credibility and capability. He said that everyone at the BRICS Summit lauded the success as a collective achievement.
Responding to a question asked by the Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr. Phillip Green, on whether the world would go back to the times of Mahabharata and be bipolar, he said that multi-polarity is here to stay. No one country can call the shots anymore.
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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.
