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ET Now launches Pioneering Spirit 3 with Lufthansa
Mumbai: Lufthansa is partnering with ET Now for the third time for the television series Pioneering Spirit.
Starting today, the show will air every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 6.30 pm, in which pioneers of today will select pioneers of tomorrow.
The show provides budding entrepreneurs a chance to transform their business. A total of 30 entrepreneurs are shortlisted from 20,000 entries. They will compete over 10 episodes to win a Canaan sponsorship for a business programme at Cambridge, a mentorship from The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) and a Lufthansa Business Class ticket to Europe.
Hosted by ET Now senior editor and anchor Shaili Chopra, each episode will feature one icon, who will then select a ‘pioneer of tomorrow’ among the three contestants that present their business plans.
ET Now, Times Now and Zoom CEO Avinash Kaul said, “The success of the show lies in its unique format that adds a completely new dimension to reality television, and the fact that it goes one step further to actually help transform the business of these spirited entrepreneurs.”
An accompanying poll has been organised by Lufthansa India on Facebook calling for popular vote on the ‘pioneer of tomorrow’ among the shortlisted participants on each episode.
Lufthansa South Asia director Axel Hilgers said, “The overwhelming response to the show, with over 20,000 submissions received this season, reflects the pioneering spirit of Indian entrepreneurship. It is a privilege for us to partner the success of such trail blazing businesses that reflect a core leadership and customer service values shared by Lufthansa.”
The industry icons being showcased this season include HSBC India group general manager and country head Naina Lal Kidwai, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, Fabindia MD William Bissell, Hero MotoCorp Joint MD Sunil Munjal, People Group Founder and CEO Anupam Mittal, Fortis Healthcare executive vice chairman Shivinder Mohan Singh, NIIT Group chairman and co-founder Rajendra S Pawar, Rajshree Sugars and Chemicals chairperson and MD Rajshree Pathy, Hotel Leela Venture chairman Capt CPK Nair and Sona Auto Comp Group founder and chairman Surinder Kapur.
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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.
