News Broadcasting
Mini Mathur to host Pogo Amazing Kids Awards ’06
MUMBAI: The third edition of the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 is all set to rock with television anchor/VJ Mini Mathur on board for 19 new episodes.
Turner International India Vice President Advertising Sales and Networks India and South Asia Monica Tata said, “We are extremely happy to introduce Mini as the new face for Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006. Mini is a popular television anchor and we are confident that she will do complete justice to the new, serialised format of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006. A mom herself, Mini would be the best person to interact with the participants and their parents and also share a comfort level with them as they face the camera.”
Mini Mathur with Rob (left), Chinu (right) and Niall on Pogo Amazing Kids Awards ’06
Enthused about her venture in the kids’ genre for the first time, Mini Mathur says, “I am really excited to be part of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006. Though I have anchored a lot of shows on television, this one demands dealing with young hearts and their emotions. Pogo is doing an incredible job by inculcating confidence in these kids and providing them a platform to showcase their talent to the country.”
The Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 research team and jury is in the process of short listing five nominees from each of the eight categories – arts, sports, music, singing, dance, genius, leadership and entertainment. These 40 kids will be profiled as part of the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 series starting 4 November 2006. This serialised format has been produced by Miditech.
The first eight episodes will feature non-category specific profiling of the 40 nominees, followed by a complete recap in the ninth episode. The next eight episodes will have three finalists in each category vying for the top prize by impressing the jury, viewers and thereby getting their votes. At this stage, the jury panel will be there to guide the finalists, spur them on and give them words of advice, while viewers’ votes will play a crucial role in selecting the final eight winners. These will be followed by a grand finale that will reveal the final eight winners of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006, informs an official release.
The winners of the POGO Kids Awards will be felicitated at a gala, in-studio event in Mumbai that will be interspersed with performances. The winners will be awarded with a child benefit policy worth Rs 5 lakhs and to further highlight their talent, the winning kids will get the chance to be on Pogo throughout 2007.
Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2006 is divided into two sections, Pogo Voice Awards and Pogo Kids Awards. The Pogo Kids Awards segment will recognise exceptional talent and brilliance and reward them for their talents in multiple areas and the Pogo Voice Awards will yet again empower children from all over India to vote for their favourite celebrity icons amongst nominees in various award categories.
Instituted by Pogo in December 2004, the Awards recognise child wonders and reward them for their achievements in multiple areas of excellence such as arts, leadership and sports.
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.
