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NDTV Infrashakti Awards 2024: Honouring India’s visionaries in infrastructure development
Mumbai: NDTV, a trailblazer in Indian TV news and digital journalism, has announced its prestigious NDTV Infrashakti Awards 2024, with knowledge partner Infravision Foundation, that recognises numerous infrastructure initiatives that illuminate India’s true growth story. The awards showcase the pulse of our vibrant country, celebrating infrastructure advancements that have the potential to transform lives and foster community connectivity. The awards will spotlight many remarkable individuals and institutional efforts that inspire innovation and excellence on the road to a Viksit Bharat in the presence of Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari; Ports, Shipping and Waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal; and Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Comprising of six jury-selected categories and one popular choice/viewers’ choice category, the NDTV Infrashakti Awards 2024 categories are Rural Infra Pioneer, Renewable Energy Star, Water Saviour, Urban Infra Hero, Infra Visionary, and Transport Trailblazer. Additionally, the People’s Choice Award under the Inclusive Infrastructure category allows the people of India to cast their votes, and get their voice heard.
The NDTV Infrashakti Awards 2024 will be judged by an esteemed panel of five jury members: Prime Minister’s economic advisory council chairman Dr Bibek Debroy; GSK Pharmaceuticals’ chairperson and HDFC Ltd’s former MD Renu Sud Karnad; Dilip Cherian, an image guru specialising in litigation landscaping and policy analysis; Gul Panag, an actor, sustainability advocate, and social activist; and Professor G Raghuram, former director, IIMB, and professor Emeritus at Gujarat Maritime University.
As an integral component of NDTV’s expansive Infrashakti campaign, ‘INFRASTRUCTURE: INDIA’S GROWTH STORY,’ the campaign showcases how sustainable infrastructure embodies a vital synergy between climate mitigation and economic growth, offering a tremendous opportunity for positive change.
By recognising and celebrating the efforts of those transforming India’s infrastructure landscape, the NDTV Infrashakti Awards aim to inspire further innovation and excellence in the sector. These awards honour the visionaries driving India’s growth story and making significant contributions to a sustainable future.
To watch the awards tune in to NDTV 24×7 and NDTV Profit on 2 July 2024, 4 pm onwards. For more information and updates, visit Infrashakti Awards 2024 .
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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.
