News Broadcasting
Zee Sports to telecast 15 matches of Santosh Trophy
MUMBAI: Zee Sports will telecast the finals rounds of 61st Santosh Trophy comprising of quarterfinals, semi finals and finals from 14 October to 25 October.
In total 32 states and government institutions have taken part in this year’s tournament. The cluster leg of the 61st Santosh Trophy was held over the last month in Gurgaon and Faridabad.
Zee Sports business head Himanshu Mody says, “We are proud to be associated with the telecast of 61st edition of Santosh Trophy. Zee Sports has put in lot of hard work to present the Santosh Trophy in a viewer friendly format at viewer friendly times with in depth analysis. We are also, undertaking a holistic program to develop football from ground level to see India playing in major football tournaments around the world. We are sure that all this along with Zee Sports distribution strength will see football reach a new level.”
Zee Sports will telecast the fifteen matches from the quarterfinals onwards of the 61st Santosh Trophy, live and exclusive from, Gurgaon starting 15 ctober. Zee Sports would be using a 10 camera set up to produce the telecast. The telecast package will include preview and review shows, half time match analysis and various studio programming. The coverage will involve more cameras, more replays, new commentators and a new graphic look. Zee Sports ace anchor Mayanti Langer will present the pre-match and a post match analysis along with football expert Novy Kapadia, informs an official release.
In line with Zee Sports promise to deliver international quality coverage of Indian football, legendary John Helm will be commentator along with Zee Sports anchor Debayan Sen for the Santosh Trophy.
To promote the tournaments a special section on Indian football will be created on Zee Sports website www.zeesports.co.in. This will provide soccer fans with the latest team news, match scores, statistics and player profiles, as well as exclusive player interviews and photo galleries. There will be interactive sections, which will include chat rooms, video clips of matches, online games, wallpapers and ring tones, the release adds.
The Schedule:
Haryana vs West Bengal – 14 October – 4:45 pm
Goa vs Punjab – 14 October – 7:00 pm
Kerala vs Tamil Nadu – 15 October – 4:45 pm
Maharashtra vs Karnataka – 15 October – 7 pm
Haryana vs Punjab – 16 October – 4:45 pm
West Bengal vs Goa – 16 October – 7 pm
Tamil Nadu vs Karnataka – 17 October – 4:45 pm
Maharashtra vs Kerala – 17 October – 7 pm
Haryana vs Goa 18 October – 4:45 pm
West Bengal vs Punjab – 18 October – 7 pm
Kerala vs Karnataka 19 October – 4:45 pm
Maharashtra vs Tamil Nadu 19 October – 7 pm
First Semi Finals – 21 October – 6:30 pm
Second Semi Finals – 22 October – 6:30 pm
Finals – 25 October – 7 pm
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.
