News Broadcasting
Senior netizens well adapted to Internet: IAMAI study
BANGALORE: As more successful senior citizens in India enjoy living life to the fullest, they have also adopted and adapted to the Internet space. A new report from the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) takes a comprehensive look at what senior netizens do online, irrespective of whether retired, salaried or entrepreneurs.
Senior netizens above the age group of 61 years were targeted for this research. It was observed that the senior citizens were a fast growing group of online users. With India’s Internet population poised to reach 100 million by 2007-08 from the current 38.5 million, the absolute numbers of senior netizens are expected to rise to 3 million by 2007-08. The percentage penetration is expected to remain the same or increase marginally from the current 2.7 per cent to 3 per cent.
This dipstick research was conducted by the IAMAI in collaboration with Crosstab Marketing Services that surveyed 101 respondents in December 2005. The research was undertaken with a view to understand usage of Internet by senior netizens with a primary focus on understanding their activities online giving marketers a better perspective while designing their marketing and promotional programs to cater to a defined online target audience.
Commenting on this interesting finding, IAMAI president Preeti Desai said, “It is encouraging to see senior netizens as enthusiastic as youngsters in a variety of activities that define online life and show an online maturity in transacting online that surpasses the general population. Senior netizens will cross the three million mark by 2007-08. The report showcases that 15 per cent of senior netizens access the Internet from cyber cafes with 81 per cent using the Internet for more than five hours a week.
The findings of report highlight that 62 per cent use the Internet for looking up news online and 2 per cent read news on their mobile, a changing paradigm since it is this demographic that is the backbone of the newspaper and magazine readership. When it comes to matters of confidence of transacting on the Internet, senior netizens are well ahead of the general population with 26 per cent of senior netizens having looked up stock quotes and do stock trading as compared to 15 per cent of all Internet users with 38 per cent using the internet for online banking services and 21 per cent for online shopping.”
Executive Summary
Gender of senior netizens: 87 per cent of senior netizens are male and 13 per cent of senior netizens are female. With India’s Internet population poised to reach 100 million by 2007-08, the online senior netizen currently at 2.7 per cent is expected to rise marginally to 3 per cent by 2007-08.
Marital status of senior netizens: 91 per cent of senior netizens are married with kids and 8 per cent are married without kids.
Regional Representation:
The top nine cities make up for more than 77 per cent of senior netizens audience. The top five cities include – 23 per cent of senior netizens access the Internet from Delhi+, 22 per cent from Mumbai, 12 per cent from Chennai, four per cent from Hyderabad and Kolkatta. three per cent from Bangalore, Lucknow and Cochin; two per cent from Ahmedabad and Jaipur.
The top five states include 24 per cent of senior netizens access the Internet from Delhi, 23 per cent access from Maharashtra, 17 per cent are from Tamil Nadu, 10 per cent from Karnataka; and six per cent from Andhra Pradesh. Four per cent from Kerala; four per cent from West Bengal; three per cent from Uttar Pradesh; two per cent from Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Educational qualifications of senior netizens
Four per cent of senior netizens have an education up to SSC/HSC, 10 per cent have some college (Including. Diploma) but not a graduate, 37 per cent have a graduate / post-graduate general (BA, BSC. MSC, B.com etc.) and 35 per cent have a graduate /post graduate professional degree.
Occupation of senior netizens
Two per cent of senior netizens are mid level executives and nine per cent of senior netizens are senior executives while 16 per cent are self employed/professional, four per cent of senior netizens are businessman / industrialists, four per cent are housewives and 54 per cent of senior netizens are retired.
Plastic ownership and usage
80 per cent of senior netizens online own an ATM Card; 65 per cent own a credit card and debit card. 31 per cent of senior netizens use their credit cards online; 16 per cent of senior netizens use their debit cards online; nine per cent of senior netizens use both credit & debit cards online.
Internet Access by Senior Netizens
94 per cent of senior netizens access the Internet from home; 20 per cent of senior netizens access Internet from the office; 14 per cent of senior netizens access the Internet from cyber cafes.
Internet Savvyness of Senior Netizens
45 per cent of senior netizens have been using the Internet for more than six years; 44 per cent of senior netizens have been using the Internet for three to five years; seven per cent have been using the Internet since one – two years; one per cent of senior netizens have been using the Internet for six – eleven months; two per cent of senior netizens have been using the Internet for less than six months.
Senior Netizens use the Internet for varied purposes – Online Activities:
The top Internet activities among seniors who go online: 99 per cent of wired seniors have used email; 70 per cent surf for information online; 66 per cent use search engines; 62 per cent have read the news online; 47 per cent chat online; 38 per cent bank online; and 26 per cent have stock traded online.
Email: 99 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet for emailing.
Chatting: 47 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet for chatting.
Surfing: 70 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet for surfing.
Search: 66 per cent of senior netizens use search engines.
Research: 23 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet to research.
Senior Netizens didn’t grow up with the personal computer and are fervent readers of the printed word. They are the backbone of newspaper and magazine readership. It’s a remarkable achievement for both the interactive mediums to attract this demographic as stated by below mentioned statistics.
News Online: 62 per cent of senior netizens look up news online.
News on Mobile: 2 per cent of senior netizens read news on their mobile.
Matrimonial Purposes: 17 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet for ‘Matrimonial Search”.
Jobs: 20 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet to search for jobs.
Astrology: 22 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet for astrological predictions
Religious & Spiritual Information: 19 per cent use the Internet for spiritual information.
Financial Transactions Online:
Online Auctions: 12 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet to participate in online auctions
Online Stock Trading: When it comes to finances, wired seniors are much ahead of the general Internet population’s enthusiasm for trades online. 26 per cent of seniors have looked up stock quotes and do stock trading as compared to 15 per cent of all Internet users.
Online Bill Payments: 21 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet for online bill payments
Online Banking: While seniors appear comfortable managing online portfolios, they are more comfortable dealing with their bank accounts in cyberspace as 38 per cent use online banking services.
Online Shopping: 21 per cent of senior netizens use the Internet for online shopping
Donating or Charity Online: 5 per cent of senior netizens donate online.
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.
