News Broadcasting
Republic TV rejigs top leadership, names Darius Maneckji as business head
Mumbai: Republic Media Network has bolstered its business team with the elevation of Hersh Bhandari as group chief operating officer – broadcasting division and appointment of Darius Maneckji as business head for Republic TV and senior executive vice president.
In his new role, Bhandari will oversee the entire national operations for all existing broadcast channels of the network. Maneckji will now lead the entire expansive national operations for Republic TV, including the channel’s offices in Bengaluru, Noida, Gurgaon, Kolkata and Mumbai. He will report to Hersh Bhandari, announced the network in a statement on Wednesday.
With 24 years of experience, Bhandari is a well-established industry veteran with hefty achievements. With his impeccable record, he will also lead and strategise all future growth of the network’s broadcasting business into languages and regions. “Bhandari will manage the entire broadcast business operations from the network’s offices in Noida and Mumbai,” the media company said.
“At Republic Media Network, we continue to consolidate and strengthen ourselves with speed for the growth that beckons us,” said Hersh Bhandari. “I am energised by the trust reposed in me by the board, management, and my colleagues, to help shape and deliver the next phase of growth. We think and move as one, shoulder-to-shoulder.”
With over 20 years of experience, dominantly in leadership positions, Maneckji has a well-respected and robust record in the media. He has been the national sales head in the past for Times Now and also the national sales head for the English movie cluster at Turner International India. Before onboarding with Republic TV, his last assignment was with TV Today. “I am excited to join India’s fastest-growing news network. I look forward to working with one of the best teams in the business to ensure we continue to command and establish our leadership role in the English news genre,” said Darius Maneckji.
“I am excited about the new roles for both Hersh and Darius,” said Republic Media Network founder and editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami. “The broadcasting division under Hersh will see rapid growth, like never before. Our digital business is being expanded by 100 percent and together with our Strategic Business partnerships, will be hived off into separate business divisions, each with their own leadership and goals. At a consolidated level, this should place us in a fantastic position to be the number one TV plus digital news company across the board in two years.”
Republic Media Network is expanding its broadcasting operations and will be making more announcements in the coming weeks. “The induction of strong business talent is part of the expansion of the network and creation of a strong organizational base to take the plans forward,” added Goswami.
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.
