News Broadcasting
I am not stepping into Arnab Goswami’s shoes at Times Now – Rajdeep Sardesai
MUMBAI: Arnab Goswami’s Times Now exit has sent tremors through the news television industry, something that many can’t believe as yet as his name was so strongly associated with the channel. Speculation is rife about who will be his replacement, and who will fill the big fat void that has been created owing to his departure. And, questions are being asked about where he is headed.
Among the names being mentioned as someone who will hop into his chair is that of Rajdeep Sardesai, who is currently with the Aroon Purie’s TV Today Network. Rajdeep cut his teeth early on in his career at The Times of India and ended up being the city editor of the Mumbai edition. So, it will be like a homecoming for him or so is what the grapevine is muttering.
Television happened, and the son of the former Indian test bat Dilip Sardesai, and even an Oxford cricketer himself, Rajdeep plunged heavily into it. After stints in NDTV, he went on to found the channel GBN (now CNN News18) before quitting and becoming the consulting editor at TV Today Network.
Rajdeep, however, was pretty candid when indiantelevision.com got in touch with him about the strong buzz that he was replacing Arnab as the editor-in-chief at Times Now. “Rubbish,” he said. “I have not even met anyone for anything of that kind to happen. I am just coming back from a teaching assignment in Georgetown, and there is no way that I will step in for Arnab. At least for now…”
That there is no love lost between the two is no doubt, but Arnab’s style of opinionated journalism is a total antithesis of what classical Rajdeep purports he practices.
Other names being bandied about include Barkha Dutt, and Rahul Joshi. The facts are not forthcoming as the Times Television Network has not put out an official statement as yet.
The expectation was that Rajdeep would reportedly take over as the Times Now editor-in-chief, and enable the smooth transition. When indiantelevision.com reached out to Times Network MD MK Anand, he said, “I have no comments to make at this juncture.”
Have we heard the last of L’affaire Arnab? Most unlikely as the media does indeed want to know! This time at least!
Also Read: From reporting news to becoming news
The after-effect of Arnab Goswami’s exit
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.
