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Somaiya files PIL; Congress shoots of letter to governor
MUMBAI: BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, along with MLAs Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Atul Sharma, finally filed a public interest litigation on the issue of hike in cable subsription rates in the High Court this afternoon. 26 respondents have been named in the petition.
The PIL demands a stay on the cable rate hike and an immediate halt to the alleged exploitation of hapless consumers by cable operators. The PIL has also asked for restoration of cable connections that were cut when consumers, adhering to Somaiya’s earlier appeal, insisted on paying cable ops a maximum monthly fee of Rs 150 and demanded a receipt. BJP party officials claim that “vengeful” cable ops cut off cable connections to the homes which did not adhere to the subscription rate hike.
The PIL alleges that pay channels have been needlessly bringing increasing pressure on the paying consumers. It states that while 40 per cent of Mumbai households possess black and white television sets (which show a maximum of eight channels), a mere two per cent of households have TV sets which show more than 10 channels.
The PIL has asked for transparency in the operations of broadcasters by asking that they regularly declare their varied sources of revenues.
Meanwhile, averse to missing out on a plum opportunity to send the “correct message” to the voter, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has also joined the, has appealed to the Maharashtra governor, asking that ‘foreign pay channels be prohibited from increasing rates till the “Set Top Box Bill” (actually means the CAS Bill) comes into effect.’ (Click here for a full draft of the MPCC memorandum)
The MPCC however has been more comprehensive in its criticism of pay channels, maintaining that they be stopped from airing ‘obscene programmes’ and that they be made free channels “since they earn hundreds of crores through advertisements.” The MPCC has also demanded a subsidy on the cost of the set top box, that becomes mandatory once CAS is implemented.
Meanwhile, television screens in Mumbai and Thane blanked out pay channels throughout the day, as the Maharashtra Cable Consumers’ Action Committee called for a 24 hour blackout to protest multi-national broadcasting companies’ sudden hike in cable television rates.
The blackout has hit Sony the worst of all as SET is scheduled to air live the 48th Filmfare Awards at 9 pm tonight. The MCCAC’s blackout is supposed to hold out till midnight.
The move by the operators is also meant to reinforce the message that if they are unwilling to pay more than Rs 150 in monthly subscriptions, then they better get used to watching TV without any pay channels.
In a way, the action might well prove a good thing for the pay channels ahead of CAS. The public will have a clear feel of “just what they will be missing” should they opt for the basic free to air tier once CAS comes into play.
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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.
