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Sensex plunges 213 points on poll predictions
MUMBAI: The politicians may dismiss them but the stock markets seem to have reacted and how to the latest opinion and exit polls that all the news channels released following the completion of the third round of polling yesterday.
Indian stocks plunged 3.6 per cent today posting their sharpest fall in over three years most polls predicted that the country was headed for another hung Parliament triggering negative sentiments in the markets on fears that economic reforms might get stalled or delayed.
The Sensex swimming in the red zone was down a whopping 213.30 points to finally close at 5,712.28, a loss of more than $12 billion. The S&P CNX Nifty tanked 75 points or 3.9 per cent to 1,817.25.
An idea of just how severe the bleed at the bourses was can be gauged by the fact that today’s haemorrhage is the sharpest since the stock market scam of March 2001 that was linked to big-time broker Ketan Parekh.
Speaking of media scrips it was a red day all round with almost all stocks on the casualty list. The effects of the exit polls were clearly seen here too.
The major loser of the day was Crest Communication down a whopping 12.19 per cent at Rs 41.05.
Others to follow suit were Saregama and Galaxy Entertainment with a massive loss of over nine per cent ending the day at Rs 49.00 and Rs 27.35 respectively.
Sri Adhikari Brothers, Cinevistaas and Padmalaya Telefilms also lost over seven per cent each closing the day at Rs 59.65, 27.45 and Rs 59.10 respectively.
Amongst other prominent losers were Creative Eye, BAG Films Ltd, Adlabs Films, Balaji Telefilms, TV Today, Pritish Nandy Communications and Zee Telefilms.
So just what were these polls all talking about anyway. Given below are their predictions.
NDTV gave the NDA 235-255 seats, with the Congress and its allies might tipped to get between 190-210 with 100-120 going to others.
Aaj Tak projected the Congress-led camp would get 177 seats, while the NDA tally would be 262 and others would get 104.
Star News predicted that the NDA would get between 267 and 279 parliamentary seats, the Congress and its allies 160-172 and gave 97-109 to others, including the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Sahara News, which covered the 282 seats that have gone to the polls so far, projected 155 seats for the NDA, 99 for the Congress and the rest for others.
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.
