News Broadcasting
CNBCTV18.com and CNBC-TV18 break new ground with launch of educational web series — Mutual Funds Simplified
MUMBAI: CNBCTV18.com, the premium financial news digital platform, and CNBC-TV18, India’s No. 1 business new channel, will launch a new digital series named “Mutual Funds Simplified” around mid-November, 2018. The web series, a collaborative effort between the TV channel and the digital platform, is a guide to navigating the world of mutual funds and helping our audience become smarter investors. The episodes will first be out on CNBCTV18.com, and its social handles, followed by CNBC-TV18.
The three-part series — Beginner’s, Intermediary and Advanced — will help investors understand mutual funds and help fill the gaps about risks and opportunities in these type of investments. The series will explain the variety of investment options mutual funds offer, providing clarity so that investors can make informed choices while making their decisions.
On the launch of the first-of-its-kind digital educational series, Feroze Azeez, Deputy CEO, Anand Rathi Private Wealth Ltd, said, “India has 600 million young people and they are set to change the world. This generation is motivated, and a mix of both Indian and western cultures, where the internet and mobile phones are an important part of their learning and daily need. This web series is a fun way of learning to invest wisely and make your money work for your future financial goals. Mutual Funds Simplified, will prove to be beneficial and educational across categories and especially the young investors so they can make informed decisions.”
Commenting on the launch, Sumaira Abidi, Anchor, CNBC-TV18 said, “At CNBC-TV18 we are committed on helping viewers protect and grow their money. Mutual Funds Simplified – helps you understand how to protect your money against inflation and market volatility so you can create long-term wealth. The series will help you understand the diversity mutual funds propose and how you can carefully narrow it down to suit your portfolio.”
On the significance of Mutual Funds Simplified, Ranjita Sehgal, Business Head, CNBCTV18.com, stated, “The web series is out first educational multi format series from CNBC-TV18 and will rest across our digital, social and TV platforms. The two-to-three minute explainer-video helps retain investor’s attention. We take this as a great opportunity to partner brands who benefit from reaching out to the right audience and we look forward to tap such multi-format opportunities in the future.”
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.
