News Broadcasting
Zee Business institutes Pinnacle Awards to recognise the best in real estate sector
MUMBAI: With an aim to take definitive look at success and achievements in the real estate sector, and recognise excellence, the Hindi business channel –Zee Business has announced the Zee Business M-Tech Pinnacle Awards. Driven by positive growth in the economy, real estate in India is booming, thus Zee Business M-Tech Pinnacle Awards are being instituted when the Indian Real Estate Industry is going through a metamorphosis and is witnessing a boom.
According to an official release, Pinnacle Awards will feature and honor the finest professionals in the construction, building and allied industries. The awards will become an annual event highlighting the glory of India’s fast growing real estate industry. Pinnacle as the name suggests will honor men and women who have achieved and contributed to building India. It will strive to become a platform to give India’s real estate industry an iconic status.
The awards will have 23 categories from the construction, building and allied industries in real estate. It will recognise talents for their contribution in technical, creative and individual achievements. Entries will be evaluated by a jury of experts drawn from fields, which are diverse yet relevant to construction industry.
The jury comprises of industry leaders like DTZ (Debenham Tie Leung) MD Ankur Srivastava, Cushman & Wakefield joint MD Sanjay Verma, Zee News Ltd director news group Laxmi Goel, National Institute of Design executive director Dr (Prof.) Darlie O Koshy and Fairwood Consultants CEO Ranudas.
The last date of receiving entries is 10 September, while the entries will be judged on 3 October. The final award ceremony will take place in Delhi on 6 October, 2006. The audit firm, ECS LTD (ECS), a premier management consulting firm will handle the entire nomination process. There will be a dedicated jury for each of the award categories and jury will vet all the selected nominations on the pre-defined parameters and decide on the winners for each category, according to an official release.
Speaking on the occasion, Zee News LTD director news group Laxmi Goel says, “We have always believed in encouraging and identifying talent. Pinnacle awards, aims to bring together the finest mix of accomplished individuals and corporates in India’s booming real estate and construction industry. We hope to receive an overwhelming response as our aim is to make this an annual affair.”
Commenting on the need for the awards in the booming Indian Real Estate scenario, Goel added, “With a 30 per cent annual growth for the domestic construction industry, the Indian construction industry is all set to become Rs 18 lakh crore sector by year 2010 from its present size of RS 14 lakh crore. The time is ideal for the sector to propel national economy on a higher growth trajectory, by maximising performance and operational efficiency. There is a need for a greater level of transparency in the sector to enable it to be better placed in swinging investments / FDI. The Pinnacle Awards will provide a benchmark for construction industry in India by present a platform to recognize excellence in the field.”
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.
