News Broadcasting
Yashwant Sinha to anchor people’s show on Zee News
MUMBAI: Zee News has a unique show up its sleeve. The channel has roped in former finance minister Yashwant Sinha to anchor a show on its channel. The show, which promises to be a ‘people oriented show’, will go on air by mid-May. And as the buzz goes, Sinha will be playing a roving reporter for the channel by traveling across the country, interviewing people from the nooks and corners of India.
Elaborating on the thought behind the show, programming head Alka Saxena says, “The former finance minister takes on the role of a reporter in the show. For every episode he’ll choose a category or a section of society like say farmers, bureaucrats, shopkeepers or for that matter even say peons or maids. And the whole episode will revolve around what that particular section of society has to say.”
The show promises to cut across all TGs and is broadly divided into three sections. The first segment will talk about the problems of that particular section of society; the second segment will take a slightly personal look at that particular community and the third section will get their views on any policy decision. Like for example the episode on shopkeepers had them expressing their views on VAT. The question posed will be general as well as personal.
On being queried on why the channel has gone ahead with Sinha as the anchor, Saxena replies, “He had earlier on anchored a programme `Captains of India’ on Zee Business for us which gave us a very good response. Also, Sinha has been a lecturer and a bureaucrat earlier and comes from a family with very strong grassroots. So, because of his background the show has a very rustic feel and its like a `neta going to the janta’ and wanting to listen to their problems.”
About seven episodes of the show have been shot for which Sinha has traveled by public transport to interact closely with people. Says Saxena, “There have been times when people in the villages have been totally spellbound by Sinha’s personality. Also, we definitely have been able to get people to talk about their problems.”
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.
