News Broadcasting
TV18 registers Rs 15 m. net profit in Q1 2002
NEW DELHI: The Raghav Bahl-promoted Television Eighteen Ltd has recorded a net profit of Rs 15.25 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 as compared to Rs 11.25 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2001. The total income has increased from Rs 72.48 million in JQ-01 to Rs 78.07 million in JQ-02.
The Q1 operating profit has gone up to Rs 15.15 million from Rs.0.79 million on an year-on-year basis. The operating margin is up to 21.60 per cent from 1.27% Y-o-Y. The statement said that improved financial performance has been recorded despite the current quarter being seasonally the weakest quarter.
Revenues are up 12.71 per cent on an Y-o-Y basis, while the operating expenditure is down 10.48 per cent Y-o-Y.
According to a statement issued today the Television Eighteen Group (TVEG) has posted sustained revenue and profitability growth over the last five quarters. The consolidated net profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 is at Rs 4.18 million as compared to a net loss of Rs 8.19 million in the quarter ended June 30, 2001. Revenue from Operations has increased from Rs 62.22 million in JQ-01 to Rs 70.13 million in JQ-02.
Following the company’s board meeting earlier in the day, Raghav Bahl, Television Eighteen’s Managing Director said: “The company’s performance continues to improve – the operating margin has risen substantially as a result of growth in revenues and increased efficiency of operation. We expect this trend to continue in the coming quarters.”
The financial performance has been measured for Television Eighteen Group on a consolidated basis. This includes TV 18 India and its subsidiary companies TV 18 Mauritius, Eighteen Entertainment India and E18.
According to TV 18, as investors were informed, the company made a provision for the bad debts of M/s Home Trade after the Q4 ’02 results was declared in April. Accordingly, Q4 ’02 results have been re-compiled.
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.
