News Broadcasting
Get ready for the Budget Ballot: Vote for Growth” with CNBC-TV18
Mumbai : CNBC-TV18, English business news channel, kickstarted its exclusive Budget programming with ‘The Budget Ballot – #MyBudgetWishlist’ campaign initiative that captured the nation’s pulse and gave voice to the citizens’ expectations leading up to the interim Budget 2024.
With over 2500 entries received through the website and multiple on-ground touchpoints in Mumbai and Delhi, the campaign emerged as a significant channel for the nation to articulate its hopes and expectations from the Union Budget and the finance minister, especially as a run up to the upcoming general elections.
This engaging initiative complemented the dynamic CNBC-TV18 programming lineup dedicated to offering in-depth insights and expert analysis in the run-up to the Budget as well as decoding the implications of the announcement for the audience.
The pre-budget comprehensively addresses various facets of the Budget, featuring well-researched information and cutting-edge analysis led by CNBC-TV18’s esteemed guest Editors such as Dr K.V. Subramanian, executive director, international monetary fund and former CEA; N.K. Singh (15 Finance Commission); Sajjid Chinoy (JP Morgan); Dinesh Kanabar (Dhruva Advisors). In the ‘Budget Market Masters,’ market veterans like Raamdeo Agrawal (Motilal Oswal Financial Services); Nilesh Shah, (Kotak Mahindra AMC); S Naren (ICICI Prudential AMC); Prashant Khemka (White Oak Capital); and Ashok Wadhwa (Ambit) discuss expectations of the markets and anticipated movements because of the Budget announcement.
The comprehensive and well-rounded Budget Day reportage will include shows such as the “The FII View” where the viewers gain a perspective on foreign investments in India, featuring R innobert Sockin (CITI) and Arvind Sanger (Geosphere Capital) sharing their expertise.
Featuring the biggest voices from India Inc., leaders such as Dinesh Khara (SBI), Sanjiv Bajaj (Bajaj Finserv), Sanjiv Puri (ITC), Sunil Vachani (Dixon Technologies), Suneeta Reddy (Apollo Hospitals) will share their opinions & analysis of the Budget 2024 announcement. Through ‘Mapping the Macros’, experts such as Sajjid Chinoy (JP Morgan), Jahangir Aziz (JP Morgan), and Samiran Chakraborty (CITI India) will explain the macroeconomic landscape and in ‘The Tax Tangle’, Dinesh Kanabar (Dhruva Advisors), Rajiv Memani (EY) and Sudhir Kapadia (EY) will help decode taxation complexities.
CNBC-TV18, managing editor Shereen Bhan said,’ ‘The CNBC-TV18 Budget Ballot campaign is a powerful forum for voicing our nation’s collective hopes & dreams from the budget. We believe the citizen must be at the centre of policy making and the Budget ballot is an effort to initiate a dialogue. This is our latest effort in making the Budget accessible to viewers, an endeavour we have been committed to for the last 25 years. Our experience, expertise and understanding of the union budget will ensure our coverage comprehensively decodes the fine print of the Interim Budget 2024 and amplifies the impact of the announcements, all this live and in real time. With a stellar line up of industry leaders, economists, policymakers & global investors, CNBC-TV18 will bring you the most value-added analysis of the Union Budget”.
Network18 CEO, Business News Smriti Mehra, added, “Our dedication to being the foremost authority on business & financial news and insights is encapsulated in our programming lineup and the enthusiastic response to the #MyBudgetWishlist campaign. As Budget Day approaches, we aim to equip our audience with information that is relevant and useful to them in their financial journey.
For union budget 2024, we have partnered with some of the most renowned brands such as Life Insurance Corporation of India, along with State Bank of India and Bandhan Bank. Notably, CNBC-TV18 being a multiplatform news brand, will be going LIVE on TV, website, and YouTube, ensuring that our viewers can access real-time updates and expert analysis seamlessly across various mediums.” she added.
Tune in to CNBC-TV18 to catch the FM’s Speech LIVE on 1st Feb, 11 AM onwards. Also available LIVE on our YouTube page – @CNBCTV18.
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.
