News Broadcasting
Dream11 halts operations in Karnataka after FIR against founders
Mumbai: Online sports platform Dream11 has suspended Karnataka operations of its gaming app Dream11 after its directors were booked under the amended Karnataka Police Act, which seeks to ban online gaming.
Following the filing of a first information report (FIR) against its founders in Bengaluru under the state’s newly legislated Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act 2021, the homegrown sports tech company said in a statement on Sunday, “Following the recent media coverage, our Karnataka users have expressed deep concerns and anxiety for their safety and security. In order to allay our users’ concerns, we have decided to suspend operations in Karnataka.”
The Karnataka Police Act recently amended its gaming law to prohibit online gambling, betting, and wagering. On Saturday, the Bengaluru Police filed an FIR against Dream11 founders Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth subsequent to a complaint that the Mumbai-based firm had continued to offer gaming services on its platform a week after the state government notified the new rules disallowing what it termed as “games of chance.”
Dream11 said that the complaint was “motivated” and it is examining legal remedies.
With this, the online gaming platform has joined the likes of Mobile Premier League (MPL), Paytm First Games, Games24X7, and others, which have deactivated their platform for users in Karnataka.
Dream11, however, continues to maintain that it is compliant with all the laws. “We have been advised by the Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS), who have shared an opinion from a former Supreme Court Judge, stating that the Karnataka Police (Amendment) Act 2021 does not apply to its member Fantasy Sports Operators. This is because the FIFS format of fantasy sports has been upheld by the honourble courts of India as not amounting to gambling, betting, or wagering,” said the company in a statement.
Karnataka’s new law, which came into effect on 5 October, bans online games that are “games of chance” in nature. It makes operation, abetting, or sheltering of online games involving the exchange of money, betting, and wagering “cognisable and non-bailable offence.”
The move comes at a time when the Indian Premier League (IPL) is underway and the T20 Cricket World Cup is slated to start later this month. These sporting events are crucial for the gaming platforms to drive engagement and acquire new users in what’s a competitive industry.
The Dream11 platform allows users to play fantasy cricket, hockey, football, kabaddi, and basketball on its app. The firm became the first Indian gaming company to enter the unicorn club in April 2019 after an investment took its valuation at over $ one billion.
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.
