News Broadcasting
Micromax presents the Vh1 Ticket To Ride Contest to the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards
MUMBAI: With the onset of the New Year, it is time to gear up for the biggest musical festival. Hollywood is all set to welcome the 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards. The glitz, the glamour, the shutterbugs are sure to explode through your television screen but WAIT! Vh1 gives all their fans a chance to witness the legendary night – LIVE, a chance to watch their favorite artist give some splendid performances! The awards will also be aired LIVE exclusively on Vh1, 27 January, 2014 LIVE at 6:30am with a prime time repeat at 9pm.
Vh1 has always believed in giving its fans a chance to witness the biggest music awards night LIVE! So here is your exclusive chance to win a trip to the 56th Grammy Awards through the Micromax presents Vh1 Ticket to Ride Contest and rub shoulders with the biggest music stars of the world! The contest begins from December 17, 2013 until January 7, 2014. Now, all that the fans need to do is, log on to this link www.vh1.in/grammys, answer a few simple questions and win a chance along with a friend to experience 56thAnnual GRAMMY Awards.
To make the experience larger than life, the channel has roped in renowned fashion designer duo Shivan and Narresh to style the winner for the awards night in LA.
Ferzad Palia, Sr. Vice President and General Manager – English Entertainment, Viacom18 Pvt Ltd said, “Ticket To Ride Contest is a platform where fans get a chance to witness the biggest music awards of the world. This year, to make it extra special for the winner we are giving them a chance to wear an ensemble designed by one of the leading fashion designers of the country. Like it’s rightly said ‘Watching them isn’t the same as watching with them’”
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.
