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PM to media cos: Go global
NEW DELHI: Giving a call to the Indian media companies to go out and straddle the globe, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that India should have its own CNNs and BBCs that not only carry the country’s viewpoint to a global audience, but also inform and educate NRIs.
“I do believe that Indian media must now go global. We need our own CNNs and BBCs! A global Indian channel with a global perspective and reaching out to a global audience. I also think Indian print media must now think global,” Singh said while addressing a distinguished gathering here on the occasion of completion of five years of CNBC TV18 and launch of Awaaz, a consumer channel.
Pointing out that the country has seen several international news organizations seeking permission to enter the Indian market, he bemoaned, “But, what I do not find as yet is an Indian media company wanting to go global. In fact, very few of our media organizations are as yet willing to invest in foreign correspondents in important capitals of the world. We cannot continue for long with the present state of affairs wherein only one media organization has a full-time correspondent stationed in Beijing.
“Our media’s coverage of our own region, South Asia, is inadequate. All this must change. I am glad that TV18 has taken the first steps in this direction (reference to the launch of South Asia World).
Lauding TV-18 promoter Raghav Bahl and team for having launched a global channel for overseas viewers, the PM said that he is heartened to know the Indian diaspora, a vast pool of talent and energy, wanting to come back and participate in the economic growth processes.
“I hope your new channel will not be aimed at the overseas Indian community alone, but also at the international community. The world must know what is happening in India,” Singh said.
He added that recently when Doordarshan launched its Direct-to-Home service, it was urged to recapture its role as a public service broadcaster.
“I am conscious of the fact that private channels have to be more concerned about market compulsions since advertising revenue is your only source of income. I am, therefore, encouraged by the fact that you see market opportunities in launching a Hindi business channel and in going global.
“Our non-English speaking citizens are increasingly participating in our market economy and deserve to have the same access to information that English speaking Indians have. I hope there will be more Indian language business channels and publications so that more of our people understand the dynamics of the contemporary world,” the PM said.
The PM, however, cautioned the electronic medium to live up to its responsibilities and not transmit images that can assault the Indian sensibilities in any way.
Boom in media
According to Singh, the past decade or so has witnessed a boom in Indian media, which has given many young women and men the opportunity to exhibit their talent and creativity. Never before has the Indian media scene been as exciting a place to work in as it is now.
“There has been an exponential growth both in the number of consumers of news and of its suppliers. In 1990 we had only one television channel and a limited business media. Today, there are scores of TV channels and several business channels vying with one another for the viewer’s attention and the advertiser’s budget,” he said, making it clear that he’s quite clued in to the happenings in the media.
Pointing out that the new turn in economic policy that we took in 1991 and the increase in demand for information have clearly played an important role in this process, the PM said the quantitative growth of media has also helped in its qualitative development. “Competition has, quite understandably, contributed to greater creativity,” he added.
There is, of course, some understandable concern that has been expressed about some of the values and images we are transmitting through television, Singh said, adding, “I think media managers must pay attention to these concerns. There must be commitment to both quality and values in your programming. The media has an important developmental role to play, especially the business media.”
Media’s role as a watchdog
The PM also took this occasion to highlight some other economic issues and the role that the Indian media should play.
Pointing out that the country is on a new path of growth and development where the government is committed to increasing the rate of investment and in creating an environment conducive to meeting this objective, the PM said that the country is “rapidly integrating itself with the world outside.”
“We want to see our share of world trade and investment flows increase rapidly. We want more foreign investment in India and we want Indians to invest abroad. We would like to see easier regimes for the movement of skilled people and we want to encourage inbound tourism in India,” he said without dwelling on the fact whether the media sector too would be opened for further foreign investment.
“The time has come for India to make bold and rapid strides. I urge all of you to think BIG. At the recent meetings of the Council on Trade and Industry and of the Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, I was heartened to see that many of our business leaders shared this sense of urgency. They agreed with me that we must think big and think boldly about the future of our country,” he said.
Singh added: “The challenge before us – in economic policy, in social policy, in education policy, in foreign policy – is to `think out of the box’. We must think anew, afresh and ahead.”
Paying tribute to the media in the context of the tsunami tragedy because it was an early report on a television news channel that had first alerted him to the tragedy, Singh said that “an alert and energetic media can play a constructive role in helping people in such times of crisis.”
The business media also has an obligation to play the role of an early warning system in the market place as it has to draw the attention of both investors and government to what is happening in the markets at home and abroad, in firms large and small, and in the government, PM said.
“It was the media that alerted us to the stock market scam of 1992. You must be the guardians of the interests of ordinary investors so that we can create wealth for all and not just for a few. Wealth that endures and that is productively utilized,” he concluded.
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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.
