News Broadcasting
Worldspace sings with pride for the Indian Army
Celebrates Army Day with special programming that resonates with the sounds of the Indian Army
WorldSpace Satellite Radio, one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services, will reverberate with songs that celebrate the bravado, integrity and resilience of the Indian Army as radio stations on the network pay tribute to the army men on the occasion of Army Day on January 15, 2006.
WorldSpace connects the armed forces personnel stationed in the furthest reaches of the subcontinent, to the latest and best programming across the widest variety of radio content, spanning over 40 radio stations playing over 10,000 songs a day.
Army Day commemorates the appointment of the Indian army’s first Indian Commander in Chief, Field Marshal K M Cariappa on 15th January 1948. On this proud occasion, WorldSpace stations Jhankaar, Farishta and Sparsha offer listeners a series of special programs and exclusive opportunities to convey their best wishes and request dedications for their valiant loved ones from any where across India.
Farishta, the 24-hour radio station on the WorldSpace network that hums to the nostalgic tunes of classic Bollywood movies, presents a 4-hour special on “Farishta Orchestra” that showcases the patriotic rhythms of yesteryear movies.
The show will feature hits songs that celebrate the theme of patriotism and the armed forces such as ‘Mere desh ki dharti ‘ from Upkaar, ‘Kar chale hum fida’ from Haqeeqat, ‘Yeh desh hain veer jawano ka’ from Naya Daur, ‘Aye watan aye watan’ from Shaheed, ‘Vande Mataram’ from Anand Math etc. Tune in and celebrate the spirit of the Indian Army with RJ Sulagna on Farishta from 7am to 11 am on Sunday January 15, 2006.
Radio Jhankaar, the destination for the latest foot tapping Hindi film hits and Radio Sparsha, the national 24-hour Kannada music station also get into the celebratory mood and connect listeners with their family and friends in the armed forces with special requests, dedications and messages of encouragement. This unique opportunity to send a message to your loved ones in the Indian Army can be accessed from virtually any part of India.
RJ Nisha plays dedications by listeners to any relative in the army on
Radio Jhankaar as “Jhankaar Beats” presents a 4-hour request special
between 8am and 12noon while Chaitanya Hegde, WorldSpace’s resident Bollywood expert, hosts an exclusive 1-hour special on “Jhankaar Countdown”, where he pumps out songs on the army from hit Hindi films of the recent past. Catch the patriotic fervor on Radio Jhankaar on Jan 15th as songs from movies such as LOC, Refugee, Border and Lakshya, among others, fill your senses with pride.
On Radio Sparsha, RJ Madhura and RJ Avinash host dedication specials on “Ee Touchalli” between 8am and 12noon and “Masale Mandakki” between 6pm and 10pm, respectively. Both shows celebrate Army Day with Kannada songs dedicated by and to warriors from Karnataka in the Indian Army.
Tune in to WorldSpace and celebrate the Indian army with the power of music!
About WorldSpace, Inc.
WorldSpaceR (NASDAQ: WRSP) is the world’s only global media and
entertainment company positioned to offer a satellite radio experience to consumers in more than 130 countries with five billion people, driving 300 million cars. WorldSpace delivers the latest tunes, trends and information from around the world and around the corner.
WorldSpace subscribers benefit from a unique combination of local
programming, original WorldSpace content and content from leading
brands around the globe including the BBC, CNN, Virgin Radio UK, NDTV and RFI. WorldSpace’s satellites cover two-thirds of the globe with six beams. Each beam is capable of delivering up to 80 channels of high quality digital audio and multimedia programming directly to WorldSpace Satellite Radios anytime and virtually anywhere in its coverage area. WorldSpace is a pioneer of satellite-based digital radio services (DARS) and was instrumental in the development of the technology infrastructure used today by XM Satellite Radio.
For more information, visit www.worldspace.com http://www.worldspace.com/> .
About WorldSpace India
WorldSpace boasts a range of over 40 radio stations across genres – from Jazz to Classical, to Old Hindi Film Music and Rock. Its Indian programming includes two Indian classical stations – Shruti (Carnatic) and Gandharv (Hindustani), as well as regional Indian stations, viz. Tara (Bengali), KL Radio (Tamil), Sparsha (Kannada), RM Radio (Malayalam), Spandana (Telugu) and Tunak Punjabi (Punjabi) and a Spiritual and Wellness station, Moksha, among others.
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.
