News Broadcasting
Right to be gay: new show on NDTV Prime from 25 Nov
MUMBAI: Live and let live. The launch of this show on TV is one of those days when your happiness knows no bounds.
Director and writer Amit Khanna, who created the first ever LGBT web-series called All About Section 377, has added one more feather in his cap. The series which won hearts in the digital space, is all set to make its debut on the Indian television from 25 November. Not only is this the first LGBT serial on TV, but it is also the first web-series that has been picked up by a broadcaster.
With Hitachi on board as the title sponsor, the show will be aired on NDTV Prime every Friday at 9pm. The repeat telecast will be aired on every Saturday and Sunday though the channel has not yet decided a time slot, yet. Khanna said, “The response has been terrific. In fact, I am so happy with the way viewers have poured comments on the YouTube channel; it has been very motivating for the entire team. This encouragement has led to such a big move and this will be the very first time an LGBT web-series will be showcased on National Television.”
All about Section 377 is about freedom of love, love in its purest form. It connects to each and every individual irrespective of age from anywhere in the world. The web-series is a light and fun representation of the dilemmas faced by homosexuals.
It takes a light-hearted look at a gay couple’s life as seen through the eyes of straight homophobic man. It is about Suresh who comes to Mumbai from Delhi to pursue acting and modeling. Being a homophobic, his worst nightmare comes alive when he realizes that his cousin, who he is supposed to live with, is gay and also lives with his boyfriend in the same apartment. Hence begins the journey of a homophobic man who lives with a gay couple and how his perceptions change over a period of time. The response towards this web series has been overwhelming. Khanna has received some heart-throbbing letters and messages from those who belong or are staying with a person belonging to the community. He has also received tremendous appreciation for his acting skills in the web-series.
“I am touched by the effect of this web-series. A lot of youth have come out of the closet. Boys and girls have been living a life where they can’t express freely. A mother wrote a letter to me, thanking me for creating the web-series. It actually changed her perception towards her son who is gay,” added Khanna. Khanna and his team are currently working on the series’ second season which will be launched shortly.
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.
