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TV9 Network to organise ‘What India Thinks Today Global Summit’ in New Delhi on 17 June
MUMBAI: TV9 Network has announced that it will conduct a two-day event What India Thinks Today Global Summit to be held at the Taj Palace in New Delhi on 17-18 June 2022. The two-day event will dwell on the aspiration that binds 130 crore Indians with Vishwa Guru: How Near, How Far being the theme of the inaugural edition of What India Thinks Today – Global Summit.
There will be 75 speakers. Home Minister Amit Shah will deliver the summits keynote address on 17 June while defence minister Rajnath Singh will launch the summits proceedings on 18 June.
The former UK premier David Cameron will speak on the India In The New International Order theme. Former Afghanistan premier Hamid Karzai will address the issue of Terrorism: Enemy of Humanity. Union Cabinet ministers and chief ministers too will address the summit.
The summit will bring together on the platform international and national speakers from the field of politics, governance, economics, healthcare, culture and sports. It will host 75 star speakers spread over two days covering a variety of themes.
It will witness policy makers and cabinet ministers while senior chief ministers representing federal India will address the summit.
In all 15 union cabinet ministers will share their Vishwa Guru vision for India. The chief ministers drawn from across the length and breadth of India will dwell on the core summit theme.
Cameron said, I am delighted to be joining you at this first Global Summit hosted by TV9, bringing together some of the brightest minds in India to tackle some of the great challenges & opportunities that the world faces today. I remain incredibly proud of the strong relationship I helped forge between the UK and India while I was Prime Minister. I brought my first ever trade mission to India back in 2010 to help create a truly modern partnership, alive to the possibilities of the worlds oldest democracy and the worlds largest democracy. It is such a pleasure to return more than a decade on to examine with you a very different world we live in today. The challenges may be different, but the strong bonds that bind our countries together endure. There is no shortage of topics to be covered, so I look forward to joining you at this important gathering.
I am looking forward to participating in the TV9 event and discussing issues of mutual interest between India and Afghanistan, said Karzai.
TV9 Network CEO Barun Das said, With this summit, we intend to catalyse interesting conversations, discussions and deliberations that hope to show a blueprint of Indias journey to become the leader of the new world. The journey isnt without challenges. But the goal is as sacred as it is ambitious, driven by strong leadership, collective will and commitment of the entire nation. The ultimate aim of this event is to generate ideas and thoughts through free-wheeling discussions to achieve a common objective of India becoming the Vishwa Guru.
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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.
