News Broadcasting
EPIC On brings special offer for Amazon Fire TV Stick users
MUMBAI: EPIC On, the premium video-on-demand platform by EPIC Channel, takes the next step to strengthening its relationship with users of one of the most popular streaming media players in the country – Amazon Fire TV Stick. For the first-time ever, Amazon Fire TV Stick users can avail the annual subscription of EPIC On at a discount of 50 per cent. This limited period, exclusive offer is currently available and valid only on the annual subscription plan of Rs. 499/-.
Amazon Fire TV Stick users have access to EPIC On’s high-definition (HD) content library across genres – with select shows in Hindi, English, and Tamil – along with short format content, video books by renowned author Devdutt Pattanaik, and classic tales from ACK Media and Tinkle.
EPIC On hosts content from EPIC TV’s acclaimed library along with a selection of exceptional stories and original series mentioned below.
Regiment Diaries – The show takes the audience behind the heavily guarded gates of new army regimental centres and highlights the training, legacy, history of the regiments, and all that goes into turning a civilian into a solider.
Siyaasat – Based on the famous book, ‘The Twentieth Wife’, the show is a story of politics, interpersonal conflicts, sabotage, grandeur, power and above all else, the love between Salim and Mehrunissa, who was Salim's twentieth and final wife.
Road Less Travelled – The host travels through India in search of exotic and unique experiences, moments not found in ordinary life.
Wilderness Days – Tom Alter takes viewers across the length and breadth of the country, traversing some of the wildest forests to get exclusive footage of unbelievably close encounters with animals in their natural habitats.
The Great Escape – Based on true events, this show takes you on a thrilling ride of the most daring escapes from Indian history.
Stories By Rabindranath Tagore – Ace director Anurag Basu presents a cinematic interpretation of Tagore's stories and characters, transporting the audience to a less complicated world filled with far more appeal and beauty.
Ekaant – The show documents and investigates the eerie processes of abandonment of historic sites like palaces and deserted forts, near some of the most populated places.
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.
