News Broadcasting
India Today launches 7 mobile-specific niche channels
NEW DELHI: The India Today group, which recently announced the appointment of its group editorial director (Broadcast & New Media) Kalli Purie as group vice vhairperson, has now entered the new age of mobile journalism with seven customised news and other channels on different aspects of life.
Purie told indiantelevision.com that the channels launched today are Yoga Tak, Food Tak, Life Tak, Tech Tak, Astro Tak, Sports Tak, and News Tak which will also see the presence of veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. The news channel News Tak will carry headlines every hour.The tagline for the channels is ‘Share kar’.
Purie said that the Indian media landscape is transforming with ever changing content consumption pattern in society and the aim was to take full advantage of this.
Although the group already had an online presence, the new channels will be more interactive with videos on demand and over 150 videos are already available from today.
She said this had become possible because of increased bandwidth available with increase in players including Jio. Since mobile has its own limitations, she said the videos could also be seen without audio or vice versa.
Her aim as to increase this number by at least two more channels so that the total is ten including the formerly launched Lallantop.com.
The channels are also present on sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and except for the last medium, there are no ads at present. Publicity would be done through the group channels and social media.
Driven by broadband services at affordable rates and technology improvements, the number of internet-enabled mobile phones is growing very fast and the number is expected to touch 700 million by 2021.
Consequently, approximately 99 per cent of Indian language internet users access online content on mobile devices and over 60 per cent of the Indian language internet users prefer to consume regional news.
The most used content on mobile phones is video. Video is expected to represent 60 per cent of the overall mobile data traffic and is expected to grow to 78 per cent by 2021.
The channels can be downloaded from https://www.mobiletak.in/
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.
