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UPA government kept security lapses secret: Finance Ministry Enquiry Report
MUMBAI: TV18’s news English news channel CNN IBN acquired possession of an internal enquiry report by the finance ministry, which reveals that during the printing of Indian currency, security features were compromised. The lapses were also kept under wraps by senior officials working under Ministry of Finance. The incident happened during the previous UPA (United Progressive Alliance) regime in 2012.
The use of a security thread is the most distinguishing feature of bank notes. The enquiry report, which says the security thread inserted in currency paper at the Hoshangabad Security Paper Mill were from an Islamic nation. The defect in the paper intended for 10 rupee notes was reported on 8 November, 2012, but was kept a secret.
The report says:
Examination of the 10 rupee notes showed indecipherable text on the security thread.
The notes either had Arabic text inscribed on the security thread or did not have any security thread at all.
The security thread was also found to be non-magnetic when examined on a quality control device.
The currency paper with the defective security thread initially escaped at least four to five quality checks.
It was later found that four boxes of sheets had defective currency paper.
At 5,000 sheets to a box, and 50 notes printed on each sheet, it works out to a whopping 10 lakh defective notes printed.
The company, which supplied the defective security thread, New Delhi-based Aristocraft International, faced no action. The MD of Aristocraft refused to comment.
The serious lapse was also kept under wraps by senior officers at Security Paper Mill and Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India for over three months. No report was sent to Home Ministry or Finance Ministry. In fact, officers allowed the supplier to change the security thread stock without punitive action. Even now no action has been taken against the officers or the supplier.
It is yet to be verified if there was any corruption involved. But clearly the lapses were so serious that it could have impacted national security exposing the country to allegations of counterfeiting its own currency.
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.
