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Internet should not become the monopoly of few, IT minister tells Rajya Sabha
New Delhi: Days after the government passed sweeping regulations for social media platforms, union information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that any attempt to create ‘imperialism of the internet' by a few companies would not be tolerated.
Prasad was speaking during the question hour on the issue of the ban imposed on certain Twitter accounts. The NDA-led Centre was locked in a tussle with the social media giant over removal of certain accounts related to the ongoing farmers’ protests. Reiterating his earlier statements made in the Parliament, Prasad said the government welcomes dissent, but cannot allow misuse or abuse of social media.
Responding to a question raised by Congress legislator G C Chandrashekhar on the issue of arrest of climate activist Disha Ravi in the 'toolkit' document case, Prasad said India is proud to have nearly 140 crore social media users. LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook have empowered ordinary Indians and they are free to do business in India, he maintained.
"The government welcomes dissent. The issue is not of the use of social media, the issue is of abuse and misuse of social media. The Internet is a powerful invention of the human mind, but it should not become the monopoly of a few. We have taken a position, any attempt to create imperialism of the internet by few companies is not acceptable”, said the union minister, who had also told the Parliament on Wednesday that the IT ministry had no proposal to set up a regulator for social media.
The Centre has recently notified Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 which apply to Facebook, Twitter, Google, and others. The guidelines enable the setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms and make these platforms more pliable in assisting government agencies in the investigation as well as taking down unlawful or fake content. The guidelines also make it mandatory for these platforms to identify the originator of a message that authorities consider to be anti-national and against the security and sovereignty of the country.
According to several experts, the laws though ‘well-intended’ could undermine the principles of open and accessible Internet and violate the right to privacy and free speech of users, particularly in the absence of robust data protection law.
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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.
