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PM Narendra Modi to deliver keynote address at News18 Rising Bharat Summit
Mumbai: The latest edition of News18 Network’s marquee leadership event, ‘News18 Rising Bharat Summit’ is set to be held in New Delhi on 19-20 March 2024. With insightful discussions, thought-provoking panels and visionary keynote address, the two-day event will bring together prominent thought leaders to explore Bharat’s ascent as a global power.
India has evolved into a formidable global force, making significant contributions in several sectors from technological innovation to economic resilience. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a key architect of this transformation, will deliver the keynote address at the Rising Bharat Summit.
The summit will see participation from the country’s most revered policymakers including Union Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of Road, Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Women & Child Development, Smriti Irani, Minister of Sports, Youth Affairs and Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant and BJP leader K. Annamalai.
News18 Rising Bharat Summit will also host numerous eminent International speakers such as Michael R. Pompeo, 70th Secretary of State of the United States, John Mearsheimer, American political scientist, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former president of Mauritius, Erik Solheim, former executive director, UNEP & former Environment Minister of Norway, Ryan McInerney, CEO at VISA Inc, Aleqa Hammond, former Prime Minister of Greenland and Salvatore Babones, American sociologist and associate professor at the University of Sydney among others.
Some of the key Indian speakers include Madhabi Puri Buch, chairperson – SEBI, Falguni Nayar, founder and CEO of Nykaa, Prasoon Joshi, chairperson of CBFC and CEO of McCann World Group, Harsh Jain, CEO & co-founder, Dream Sports, Jayen Mehta, MD, Gujarat co-operative Milk Marketing Federation and Ashish Dhawan, Founder-Trustee, Ashoka University, Pawan Verma, Author-Diplomat.
The summit will see participation from renowned personalities such as actor Sidharth Malhotra, former South African cricketer AB de Villiers, former Australian cricketer Brett Lee, cricket commentator and former cricketer Akash Chopra, para-cricketer Amir Lone, fashion designer Rahul Mishra, and Grammy winners — Singer and composer Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist V. Selvaganesh, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, and flautist Rakesh Chaurasia.
Covering a broad spectrum of subjects like nation-building, technology, manufacturing, trade, sustainability, sports, entertainment and others, Rising Bharat Summit will deep dive into India’s multifaceted global influence and its role in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future for all with its mantra — ‘Leading for Global Good’.
News18 Rising Bharat Summit will air on CNN-News18 on March 19 and March 20, starting at 10 am on both days. It will also be streamed live on CNN-News18’s YouTube channel.
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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.
