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Ease up media sector: US to India
NEW DELHI: With the Indian government liberalizing foreign investment norms in quite a few sectors, the US companies are now mounting pressure to further open up the media sector here.
The need of the hour, a US Chamber of Commerce communiqué to the US government says, is that foreign investment norms in the Indian media sector should be further liberalized.
At the moment, in most media segments, including radio FM, print and television broadcasting, existing rules do not allow for a high foreign participation. However, review of some of the present policies is on within the Indian government.
Interestingly, the US Chamber of Commerce letter to under-secretary Larson in the US government has been penned by former McKinsey head Rajat Gupta.
While making a strong case for foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in some sectors of the media to be reviewed, which would, of course, help American companies operating in India, the apex chamber of commerce states there should also be a time-bound action plan too.
A copy of the US Chamber of Commerce letter has been forwarded to various arms of the Indian government by its American counterpart. Especially those agencies that are engaged in promoting ways to increase foreign investment in India, which are still lagging behind neighbour China.
According to documented figures a total of about $3.5 billion in FDI reached India in 2004, while China attracted a whopping $60 billion.
The US government seems to sending feelers to its Indian counterpart that not only FDI norms in the print sector should be liberalized further from the existing (in the news category 26%, while in non-news category up to74%) levels, but also rules relating to broadcasting, especially news ventures, should be looked into.
At various points of time, US company representatives have lobbied with the Indian government to liberalise media sector investment norms, which have been resisted till now or treated cautiously by Indian policy-makers.
For example, a suggestion to up the foreign investment cap in a DTH venture from the existing 20 per cent has been made several times by foreign companies, while foreign newspapers have exhorted the Indian government to allow printing of non-Indian newspapers from India.
A Planning Commission paper on the mid-term appraisal of the ongoing 10th Five-Year Plan recently had listed review of DTH investment norms as one of the areas for discussions. At the last moment, this was struck out of the agenda.
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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.
