News Broadcasting
The DD Metro prime time imbroglio; Adhikari lashes out
Prasar Bharati acting CEO Anil Baijal surely must be in a dilemma. His plan to not continue with existing DD Metro partner HFCL-Nine and instead go in for open bidding has backfired if one goes by the kind of offers made to pocket the 8 to 10 pm prime time slot on the network. Rs 180 million by Sri Adhikari Brothers as against the Rs 1,210 (though for a larger programming time block) offered by HFCL Nine is obviously something that will not please either Aunty Sushma or the PMO.
So it’s no surprise that noises have emanated from within Mandi House that the bids are not acceptable as the offers are too low. No official notice has been sent to the bidders on what it intends to do.
According to industry sources, HFCL Nine CEO Ravina Raj Kohli has been in closed door meetings with I&B minister Sushma Swaraj to try and sort out the issue and win back the slot for her company.
In the meanwhile, the bidders, Shri Adhikari Brothers, Prachar Communication’s, and PNC are standing aside watching the developments.
“No official notice has come our way as yet,” says Shri Adhikari vice-chairman Markand Adhikari. “Only after that reaches us will we decide our course of action.”
Adhikari is angry about the government rethinking on its tendering process and the behind-the-scenes jostling that is taking place. “Nobody stopped anyone from bidding,” he says. “Those who have not bid have no right to make an offer after the bids have been opened. It will amount to a foul practice and bad example if this is done. It will not be acceptable.”
Adhikari also dismisses the allegation that a cartel was formed by the bidders to keep the offer price for DD Metro low. “There is no question of cartelisation,” he says. “We are competing with each other for the slots and don’t forget there is no concept of unity in the production industry.”
He is quick to point out that the Prasar Bharati will have to accept the bids on the principle of business ethics.
“The facts are that they tendered the DD Metro slot without any floor price. Now they cannot complain that the bids are too low,” he points out.
Adhikari is also livid about the fact that HFCL-Nine did not put in its bid and now it is trying to make a play for DD Metro. “Why did they not bid?” he asks.
To which an official spokesperson of HFCL-Nine responds: “The terms and conditions were not acceptable and commercially viable.”
The Shri Adhikari Brothers bid was of Rs 90 million for each hour. Another outfit Prachar Communications bid for the 7-8 pm and 10-11 pm slots with offers of Rs 10 million and Rs 50 million. Prachar’s bid was for Rs 105 million for the 8-10 pm slot. The third contender, Pritish Nandy Communications, made a bid for only one hour from 8-9 pm with an offer of just Rs 10 million.
Including Prachar’s bid, the total DD can expect from the 7-11 pm slot is Rs 240 million, one-fifth of what HFCL-Nine had paid last year.
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.
