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Aircel and NDTV launch the ‘Save Our Tigers’ Signature Drive 2014
MUMBAI: Carrying forward the mission to ‘Save Our Tigers’ – the largest and the most comprehensive media campaign on tiger conservation till date, NDTV and Aircel today announced a Signature Drive 2014 on World Environment Day asking for public support for the Tiger Agenda. This agenda, encapsulating immediate action points for the government, was drafted in consultation with wildlife experts.
Launched in April 2014, the 3rd season of Aircel-NDTV ‘Save Our Tigers’ successfully set this year’s tiger agenda during a panel discussion hosted by Vikram Chandra, Group CEO, NDTV Group. The Signature Drive 2014 aims to gather 1 million signatures for the Tiger Agenda 2014 which makes 6 key demands – 1) Involve Local Communities in Conservation; 2) Strengthen and modernize the forest department to step up protection; 3) Improve Man-Animal Conflict Mitigation Measures; 4) Increase protection of buffer zones and corridors; 5) Zero tolerance approach to poaching and 6) to make political parties accountable for loss of bio-diversity. The signatures collected will then be taken to Chief Ministers of key tiger states.
The signature drive also has the support of Sanctuary Asia and Wildlife Conservation Trust as knowledge partners for the campaign. The drive will culminate on The Word Tiger Day, July 29, 2014 across New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
With the launch of the signature drive, Vikram Chandra, Group CEO, NDTV Group said, “The tiger has always been close to NDTV’s heart, it is a key part of our eco-system and if we fail to save the tiger, we risk losing everything else. NDTV and Aircel have now come together for the 3rd season to create awareness and spread the message of conservation. This year we hope lots of school children, youth and concerned citizens will come together to pledge their support to our national animal by signing our tiger agenda.”
On the launch of the signature drive, Anupam Vasudev, Chief Marketing Officer, Aircel said, “Aircel started the ‘Save Our Tigers’ initiative in 2008 to create awareness about the plight of our national animal. It was extremely heart wrenching to see how the tiger had come so close to extinction and we had come to face the unfortunate prospect that our future generations will only be able to see tigers in photographs. As we were faced with the blatant reality, Aircel started work on the ‘Save Our Tigers’ campaign with noted conservationists and experts across various on-ground projects with an aim to ensure healthy and sustainable ecological balance in the country. To take this initiative to the next level, Aircel and NDTV have come together for the third time to gain public support towards six immediate action points of Tiger Agenda 2014. We are hoping that this time as well, the people of India will come forward and pledge their support to saving the tigers in huge numbers and do their bit to keep the tiger roaring.”
About Aircel’s‘Save Our Tigers’ initiative:
The Tiger is our national animal and one that has been a part of our folklore and history for millennia. Yet this magnificent animal is on the brink of extinction. The Tiger can easily be called as the metaphor for nature, as it is a top predator and its existence ensures a healthy and a sustainable ecological balance. The year 2008 revealed the shocking number that there were just ‘1411’ tigers left in India. ‘Save Our Tigers’ is a cause related campaign started by Aircel during the latter part of 2008 with an aim to create mass awareness on the plight of this magnificent beast and rally efforts to save it.
The tag line, ‘Just 1411 left, Save Our Tigers’, struck a chord in the hearts and minds of millions of Indians.People began to rally for the cause and began to lend their voices towards the cause.
Our seriousness towards doing our bit to Save Our Tigers has led us to partner with several well-known organizations like World Wildlife Fund-India, Wildlife Conservation Trust, Wildlife Trust of India, Sanctuary Asia and NDTV as well as several noted conservationists to create an impact on ground where it really matters. We work on several projects that encompass capacity building, conflict mitigation and awareness creation. This helps us address issues in 360 degrees and reach out to create maximum impact.
To sign and support the Aircel-NDTV Tiger Agenda log on to NDTV.COM/TIGER and www.saveourtigers.com
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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.
