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Narendra Modi delivers inspiring keynote address at News9 Global Summit 2024
Mumbai: The News9 Global Summit 2024 reached its pinnacle as the PM of India, Shri Narendra Modi, delivered a keynote address that stirred hearts and minds alike. Embraced by a captivated audience comprising distinguished dignitaries, industry leaders, and intellectuals from across the globe, PM Modi’s address on the summit theme ‘India: Poised for the Next Big Leap’ resonated with a spirit of optimism and aspiration for the future of India.
The stage was set for PM Modi’s address by TV9 Network managing director and CEO Barun Das who hailed the PM as not only the architect of a New India but also as someone who aspires to lay the foundation for the next thousand years. Sharing his own insights, Das elaborated on what he termed the three “Modi Mantras”: Return on Governance, Modi Multiplier, and Citizen DNA Reset, emphasizing their importance in shaping India’s trajectory towards progress and prosperity.
PM Modi commenced his address with the adage: “Mann ke haare haar, mann ke jeete jeet,” underscoring the theme of resilience and the indomitable spirit that has come to define India’s journey in recent years.
He was quick to laud the diversity of India, acknowledging the role of media outlets like TV9 in representing this diversity. He remarked, “I often talk about India’s diversity. This diversity is also represented in the TV9 newsroom and by TV9 reporters”, emphasizing the importance of inclusive narratives in shaping national discourse.
Asserting the need for the next big leap, PM Modi remarked, “It is imperative to shift gears for India to take ‘the next big leap’. India has been in ‘reverse gear’ for too long”.
He reflected on India’s remarkable economic growth, stating, “In just ten years, India has become one of the top five economies of the world. Laws are made and decisions are taken in an expedited manner in today’s India”, acknowledging India’s economic prowess and underscoring the transformative reforms undertaken by the government to accelerate growth and development.
Dispelling notions of bureaucratic hurdles and signalling a paradigm shift towards responsive and accountable governance, PM Modi asserted that government offices in India today are “not a problem, but a solution”.
Reflecting on India’s journey of progress, the PM remarked, “In 10 years, what circumstance changed that has brought to this space? It is a change of mindset, it is a change of trust & self-confidence, it is a change of good governance”.
He also commented on India’s role in the fourth industrial revolution, emphasising that while India was left behind in the first three industrial revolutions, the time has come for it to lead in the fourth industrial revolution.
Touching upon the visible surge in investor confidence, he said, “In 2014, Indians invested Rs 9 lakh crore in mutual funds. In 2024, over Rs 52 lakh crore has been invested in mutual funds. This is because people have faith in the progress of the nation”.
“From the abrogation of Article 370 to the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, we have prepared India for the coming decade”, PM Modi said, quipping that “We don’t believe in ‘rajneeti’, we believe in ‘rashtraneeti’.”
Looking ahead, PM Modi outlined India’s priorities in key sectors such as space exploration, semiconductor manufacturing, digital infrastructure, clean energy, and fintech, reaffirming India’s commitment to fostering a knowledge-based economy driven by innovation and technology.
Concluding his address, the PM remarked, “Everyone is saying that India is the future. The times to come are extremely important. The next five years are very crucial”. His keynote address electrified audiences at the News9 Global Summit 2024 and served as a culmination of the many discussions that took place over two days of the TV9 What India Thinks Today summit.
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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.
