News Broadcasting
Jain Television into exclusive content arrangement with 18 leading publications
NEW DELHI: Jain Television, set to become the first Business & News Channel in Hindi, has entered into an exclusive content sharing arrangement with 18 leading regional publications, across the country.
Through this unique tie-up, Jain Television will share the content of its Budget special programme, Mere Sau Rupaye with these publications and get their editors and journalists on the programme.
According to Jain Television managing editor Ankur Jain, “The idea is to bring news into peoples language, even if it means simplifying the complex business and finance matters.”
“Moreover, appearance of senior mediapersons on the programme will provide unbiased and expert opinion to the viewers”, added Jain. The transcripts of Mere Sau Rupaye, aired on Jain Television every day between February 22 – March 5, 2003, between 7.00 – 10.00 pm will be published in key regional dailies such as:
North
Aaj all Editions in UP
Jansatta Express Lucknow
Prabhat Khabar Ranchi, Patna
Greater Kashmir Jammu
Navabharat Nagpur, Mumbai and Bhopal
Jansatta – Raipur
East
Prabhat Khabar Kolkata
Dharitri Bhubaneswar
Purvanchal Prahiri Assam
Amar Assam Assam
West
Loksatta – Ahmedabad
Jansatta – Ahmedabad
Sambhav – Ahmedabad
Mumbai Samachar – Mumbai
Navjyoti Ajmer
South
Siasat – Hyderabad
Vaartha (Hindi/ Telugu) Hyderabad
New Indian Express Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai
In line with its plans to become the first free-to-air Business and News Channel in Hindi, Jain Television is totally changing the look and feel of the current programme content, aiming to reach out to all the news watchers in 40 million Cable & Satellite (C&S) households in the country.
Jain Television has started a series of new programmes where the countrys leading economists, financial analysts, corporate heads, former prime ministers and finance minsters will give their expert opinions about the Budget. This includes series such as Mere Sau Rupaye, Agar Aap FM Hote and Sau Rupaye Ka Chutta.
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.
