News Broadcasting
Govt looks set to nix revenue-sharing model for FM
NEW DELHI: The government is unlikely to accept a recommendation of the broadcast and cable regulator that a revenue-sharing model be adopted during the second phase of FM radio in the country.
It would also make it mandatory for licence holders in metros to obtain a licence in smaller cities. This step is likely to be taken with an aim to spread the FM radio coverage in the country.
Government sources also said that there will be no review of the existing ban on news and current affairs on private FM radio stations, though Trai has said that the government may go in for a review of this policy.
Keeping news out of bounds for private FM players is a way to ensure that All-India Radio, now having sole prerogative to broadcast news on FM frequencies, does not get financially hit or its development stymied.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), in a comprehensive set of recommendations on radio broadcast policy earlier this week, had said that the government should go for a one-time licence fee with an annual 4 per cent revenue share in place of auctioning off FM licences.
According to government sources, non-acceptance of this suggestion owes its genesis to the financial implications that it would have on government’s revenue collection.
Pointing out that adequate monitoring was difficult in the radio FM sector, unlike the telecom sector, the sources said that there would be severe fall in government revenue if revenue share model were adopted.
According to initial calculations done in the information and broadcasting ministry, if the revenue-share model is adopted at the rate of 4 per cent, then the annual mop is likely to be in the region of Rs 100 million, in sharp contrast to almost double the amount that the government collected during the first phase of auctioning of licences.
Indiantelevision.com also learns, however, that to ease the financial burden of the private sector FM players, the government would use the highest bid in a city, for example, as the benchmark for handing out licences.
Questioned on the sidelines of a function to unveil an Independence Day special issue of Employment News (a government publication), information and broadcasting minister Jaipal Reddy today said, “I cannot comment on them (Trai recommendations) at this stage.”
Asked whether the government is aware of a deadline of 29 August on licence fee payment by private sector FM players, the minister said, “All those aspects would be taken into consideration when we decide (on the egulator’s
recommendations).”
A full radio broadcast policy, which is expected within two months, is likely to have another rider that would ensure licencees in A+ cities, like the metros, also have to take a licence in nearby cities that may not be considered too attractive financially.
This stipulation is akin to the telecom sector where private sector telecom companies have to fulfill some social obligations in the form of spreading telephony in rural areas. Alternately, they also contribute financially to a fund called the Universal Service Obligation fund.
For those seeking to set up FM stations in the north-eastern region of the country, there would be several concessions.
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.
