News Broadcasting
India Today Group clinches the top spot across digital platforms
MUMBAI: India Today Group has become the no. 1 General News group in the digital domain, well ahead of all its rivals.
With over 600 Million internet users, and a closing gap between traditional media and online journalism, India is set to witness a boom in the digital domain. If any news platform wishes to stay relevant, they need to maintain a keen eye on the ever changing audience and their preferences.
Here’s how India Today Group has stayed on top of this change, among all verticals of the digital segment:
Desktop
India Today Group has attained the top spot in the Desktop segment. With 10.2 Million Unique Visitors on Desktop, it has become the go-to news source across the country, providing the most relevant and topical news with well-researched opinions and polls. (Comscore MMX – General News, Unique Visitors, May 2019, India)
Mobile
Whether it is video segments or written pieces, India Today Group has engaged its viewers through both. It now holds the No.1 position on Mobile, with 119.5 Million Unique Visitors, surging ahead of other newsgroups. Daily consumers of news prefer their mobile devices, as they can get their news fix on-the-go, whether it be short snippets of topical information, or through, long-form content or even video. (Comscore Mobile Metrix – General News, Unique Visitors (Mobile Web & App), May 2019, India)
Video
With 2.86 Million Unique Video Viewers in a month, India Today Group holds the title of No. 1 News Video Publisher on Comscore. India Today Group’s viewers particularly enjoy consuming news through their video platforms, through news segments and original programming on YouTube, Facebook etc. These avenues are more engaging than written content, and generate more attention as well. (Comscore Video Metrix – General News, Unique Viewers, May 2019, India)
In May’19 India Today Group channels got 1 Billion video views on YouTube (Source: Socialblade) and 617 Million on Facebook (Source: Crowdtangle)
Social Media
With 45 Million Social Media Interactions and a collective Social Fan base of 120 million, India Today has become the voice of the people and is the No.1 News Group on Social Media
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.
