News Broadcasting
Republic Network becomes the largest news network with 184 million reach
MUMBAI: Republic Network smashed the national news networks and commanded number one position with 184 million Reach. The viewership of Republic Bharat has increased by 228% over the period in the last five weeks doubling the reach to 138 million. Republic Bharat was ahead this week keeping its focus on its core agenda of Rashtravad and 100% news. In the English News genre, Republic TV continued its winning streak, being number one consistently since 95 weeks.
Republic Network elevated its news agenda by pulling out one exclusive after the other which set the agenda for national discourse. As the focus at the Front shifted to the ceasefire violations of Pakistan this week and how mortal shelling from across the border killed young children on the Indian side, Republic Bharat’s ‘Sarhad Par 100’ format ensured that the Bharat team was with the victims and brought their stories to the people across the country. With an aggressive deployment at Poonch, Sunderbani Sector, Mendhar, Rajouri, Nowshera along the LoC and Longewala, Hindumalkot, Jaisalmer, Pathankot and Attari at the International Border, Republic Bharat was the only news team bringing India the pulse and the on-ground breaking news from the Front.
While Team Bharat was ahead of the curve in terms of breaking news on the retaliatory action by the Indian Forces and the anti-terror encounters in Jammu and Kashmir, the channel changed the narrative on Sunday with its super exclusive video on the Baloch Army attacking Pakistan Army posts, which came days after the Pashtuns warned Pakistan. Taking its content play and journalism to fifth gear, for the first time on national television, Republic Bharat had put out clinching proof the IAF strikes against Pakistan after it accessed photos of the strike in Balakot and brought to its viewers specific information pertaining to the SPICE 2000 weapon used in India’s strike.
Not relenting even the day after getting the big exclusive of the Balakot pictures, Republic Bharat brought its viewers the maximum details on the Jammu terror attack within the breaking news format.
Republic Bharat’s swiftness and innovation while setting the agenda continued right to the last day of the week– when the Supreme Court announced a mediation on the Ayodhya case and the channel had a full-scale show with top Hindu saints and a live audience from Ayodhya to discuss the matter. On the final day of the week, Republic Bharat also put out the Republic TV-C-Voter Popularity poll was a daily tracker of political sentiment of 50,000 Indians over a period of above 60 days which reported the national sentiment of the electorate. Whether it was reporting from the front, taking on those who insult and politick over India’s forces, those who batted against nationalistic slogans of India, or it was setting the agenda for Election 2019:
With the aggressive strategy on content and with its pace of innovation in breaking the news and breaking the established mould in terms of format, Republic News Network is now officially topping the charts.
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.
