News Broadcasting
Trai likely to recommend 5-8 % hike in cable rates
NEW DELHI: Broadcast and cable regulator, Trai, is expected to recommend a 5-8 per cent annual hike in the cable TV prices, in line with the yearly rise in inflation for the calendar year 2004.
The new prices will come into effect from 26 December and an announcement will be made before that.
“We cannot keep the cable prices frozen forever and there would be some increase in the pricing. We expect the annual hike to be equivalent to the consumer price index rise or the annual increase in inflation,” Trai chief Pradip Baijal said today.
Quizzed whether the price revision could work out to between 5-8 per cent as increase in inflation, Baijal agreed saying, “It should be in that region.”
Though Telecom regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today issued The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable) Services (Second) Tariff Order 2004, effective from today itself, the prices are to be kept in the coolers till new rates or a formula to calculate it is announced by Trai.
The regulator is reviewing the subscription charges that were frozen since December 26, 2003. Trai said in a statement today: “This revision is expected to be completed in November 2004, so that it can take effect from 26 December 2004, that is one year from the date from which the prices had been frozen.”
The authority through its order dated 15 January, 2004 and subsequent amendments had specified that the all cable TV-related charges (excluding taxes) were being frozen as of 26 December 2003.
A number of representations had been received seeking clarification on the manner in which new pay channels can be priced and the impact on retail prices. Similarly, clarifications have also been sought on the impact of channels that were free-to-air on 26 December, 2003 and having later converted to pay.
According to Trai, this issue has been carefully considered by the authority. Since new channels will be coming into the market, a mechanism has to be provided for pricing of these new channels. At the same time, there is a need to conserve the protection provided to the consumers by the Tariff Order dated 15 January, 2004.
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.
