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Sena supremo Thackeray condemns CAS
MUMBAI: Shiv Sena supremo and an important ally of the NDA government, Bal Thackeray, has warned the government that it will find its decision to go ahead with conditional access system an “expensive one”.
THE TIGER GROWLS: Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray slams CAS.
At a press conference at his Mumbai residence a short while ago, Thackeray issued a veiled threat to the government saying his party will take steps to oppose it outright. “I will not highlight what steps we will take in opposition, but go against it we will.”
He added, “The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) has not managed to put the Ram Mandir that it committed it would, it has rather set up a Daam (High cost for consumer) Mandir.”
He pointed out that “CAS is totally anti-consumer. Consumers will have to buy a set top box for each of the TVs in their rooms. That is Rs 6,000 for each TV set. The middle class will not be able to bear this burden.”
He basically labeled the move towards CAS as Gapla (translated: racketeering). Thackeray directly accused the government of colluding with an unnamed business magnate based in London, who would benefit in a big way from the implementation of CAS through the offload of set top boxes.
The announcement should come as a blow to the ruling NDA government. I&B minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has voiced that viewers will be able to get all the pay channels at Rs 200, and that the government had the consumer at the centre of the CAS decision. Already factions within the BJP which leads the NDA government have growled that CAS in its current form was not welcome. Recently Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit (who belongs to the Congress) had come out against CAS as being anti-consumer. However, that was before the government slashed duties on the import of STBs from 55 per cent to 5 per cent.
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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.
