News Broadcasting
Sharp analysis, credibility: Need of the hour for news channels
NEW DELHI: In a special ongoing training workshop organised by the Jagran group of newspapers proposed news channel, Channel 7, the consensus was clearly in favour of more authentic reportage backed by a razor sharp analysis of news.
Well known personalities from various walks of society such as Dr Sanjaya Baru, media advisor to the Prime Minister; former police commissioner Arun Bhagat, noted media personality Madhu Trehan, MPs Sachin Pilot and Navjot Singh Sidhu in their special address stressed on the need for news channels to act as credible guiding forces for the viewers.
Highlighting the importance of organising a training session, Jagran TV director Siddhartha Gupta said, “With a slew of television channels around media professionals are churned out at an unbelievable speed. Unlike a decade ago, the media scene, especially that of television has become exceedingly cut throat. Quality training is as important to the continued growth of the television industry as development funding, production investment and marketing.”
Finer details of television journalism will be imparted by experts to the team of Channel 7 at this forum. Most importantly though, this workshop is not about learning what or how “television news is done,” but about how Channel 7 aims to do it. The “learning workshop” is at present going on.
In the course of the next few days, the workshop will focus on coverage related to law and media by minister of state of science and tech and lawyer Kapil Sibal, international coverage by Saeed Naqvi and right wing Journalism by former deputy editor of India Today Swapan Dasgupta.
To provide a snapshot of some of the opinions expressed during the course of the discussions so far:
DR Sanjaya Baru: Television journalism should move beyond mere news reporting to in-depth analysis of news. Todays journalists should become the flag bearers of change and bring about a transformation in journalism.
Arun Bhagat: News channels need to be more sensitive in their reportage and should present the facts in a new format. Reporting must not be restricted to only crime related stories and all stories ought to be thoroughly investigated.
Madhu Trehan: News anchors need to be more persistent while following a story idea. Sensitivity should reflect in coverage especially in news related to accidents and other calamities.
Sachin Pilot: Television in India has not yet reached a mature stage. The youth of this country has always bought about change and has the potential to do so even in the television industry.
Channel 7 will be launched in March and is being distributed by Jagran TV Pvt. Limited.
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.
