News Broadcasting
Zee confirms Vaishnava’s new responsibilities & other major changes
MUMBAI: Zee’s Purushottam Vaishnav, as flashed by Indiantelevision.com on Sunday (9 July), will be handling three additional channels, now being designated as editor for Zee Bihar – Jharkhand and will also be responsible for Orissa and West Bengal. Bhibhu Patnaik and Anirban Choudhary will be aligned to Purushottam Vaishnav, according to an organisational announcement.
After the above changes take effect, Uday Nirgudkar, Dileep Tiwari, Dinesh Sharma, Vaishnav, Anurag Bhatnagar, Kamal Dhingra, Manoj Jagayasi and Harjit Singh will be reporting into the vice president-chairman’s office till further orders.
Zee Media’s regional channel CEO, Jagdish Chandra has expressed his desire to lighten his load of his current responsibilities of all regional news network as well as DNA (all editions) considering the fact that he has been continuously travelling for 20-25 days a month which has been taking a huge toil on his health.
Considering the above, the management has therefore decided that going forward he will be handling responsibilities of following:
1. Zee Rajasthan
2. Zee Hindustan
3. Zee Salaam (Urdu)
4. DNA Jaipur Edition
In the meantime, till the changes are realigned he will continue to handle the current role and responsibilities for a fortnight.
In addition to the above three channels, he will also look after various business interest of group in Rajasthan mainly Zee Studio, Solar park, Cable and Broadband business as well as any other actions that may be required in Rajasthan. He will also continue to assist the Group in any area that may be entrusted to him outside Rajasthan. Chandra will continue to be on the board of ZMCL and DNA while stepping down as CEO of DNA. His designation will continue as CEO Regional News Network with above responsibilities.
It is further being clarified that following changes are being made in the roles and responsibilities of regional news network:
Nirgudkar in addition to his responsibility of Zee 24 Taas will also be responsible for Zee 24 Kalaak. Deepak Rajani will be reporting into Nirgudkar.
Tiwari, in addition to his current responsibility of Zee MP-CG, will also be responsible for the new upcoming channel Zee UP-UK.
Sharma, who is handling Zee PHH, will, in addition to editorial responsibility, also handle the sales for Zee PHH. The sales team for this territory will be aligned to Sharma.
Jagyasi and Singh from Zee Unimedia will continue to be responsible for the sales of other regional channels in addition to handling sales for channels being handled directly by Chandra.
Dwaiyapan Bose, editor in chief of DNA, will be reporting to Sudhir Choudhary while Bhatnagar and Dhingra will be in the interim responsible for sales and all other functions of DNA, respectively. The resident Editor of DNA Jaipur Edition will report into Chandra.
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.
