News Broadcasting
Network18’s India – China Dialogues discusses key issues & bilateral ties
MUMBAI: During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to China, Network18 hosted The India-China Dialogues, which successfully mirrored the emerging dynamism in bilateral policy making and reflected on areas of mutual cooperation between India and China.
The event witnessed top policymakers from both India and China and discussed challenges and common goals in an effort to chart a blueprint for an ambitious and constructive partnership with the two nations.
The dialogue hosted detailed discussion where some of the respected names in the industry put forth their views on significant topics such as technology cooperation, business prospects with Make in India, trade and investment and potential of the bilateral ties.
Some of the key people representing the Chinese were Elion Group chairman and member of the Communist Party of China Wang Wenbiao; Development Research Center, State Council senior economist Ding Yifan; former Chinese Counsellor to India Deng Junbing; China Center for Contemporary World Studies senior researcher Wang Dong and CIIS senior researcher Jia Xiudong.
Meanwhile, Indian policy makers and influencers in attendance were India Foundation director and BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav; economist Arvind Virmani; Institute of Chinese Studies, India assistant director Jabin Jacob and former ambassador of India to France and Germany Amb TCA Rangachari.
Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion secretary Amitabh Kant and former minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh made an important contribution to the dialogue by means of audio-visual messages.
Some of the key highlights from the conclave:
Speaking at the dialogues, CNN-IBN managing editor Radhakrishnan Nair said, “Success happens when preparation and opportunities meet. In China, we say that there is preparation and execution. In India, we find that execution is where we lack. In terms of trade and economy, India should learn from the Chinese, and the question for China is, should China invest in India? Challenges are there but opportunities are immense if India and China come together.”
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav added, “President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi are making serious efforts to take our bilateral relations to newer levels. With two strong governments and two strong leaders, we should now engage with each other in registering what I call gradual progress on all outstanding issues. We also need to create more freedom and relaxation in visa regimes. As our PM highlighted during the visit of President Xi Jinping to India, we also have to register some progress on issues like our border. We have to ensure that peace is restored on the border.”
Government of India DIPP secretary Amitabh Kant said, “India and China are the two most dynamic economies of the world. What we are witnessing today is the revival of these Asian economies at the centre stage of the global economy. China & Indian economies are not competitive in nature but complimentary to each other. China has been the factory of the world, India has been the back office of the world and it is important that both of us work together. The strategy for China should be ‘Invested by China but Made in India.”
Former Minister of Rural Development Jairam Ramesh touched upon areas of investment, water resource planning, green economy and people to people collaboration. He said, “Green economy is an area of strategic leadership for both China and India. This is an area in which both countries can work together and learn from each other. Similarly, water resource planning between the two countries is crucial. People-to-people collaboration between the two countries has tremendous possibilities. Clearly India and China must work together. We have our differences which are being discussed and hopefully they will get sorted out.”
The dialogue served as a critical platform to discuss key issues pertaining to Asia’s two leading economies and the way forward for both. The dignitaries gave a fresh perspective to Indo-china relations and the scope of their working together.
The dialogue was hosted on 12 May, 2015 at Park Hyatt, Beijing and broadcast across the leading Network18 channels including CNN-IBN and IBN7.
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.
