News Broadcasting
‘Jaanbaaz’ on Star News to feature Suniel Shetty bravery story
In this week’s “Jaanbaaz” STAR News features three sensational stories, one of Suniel Shetty’s – the ‘brave’ Bollywood actor – organization that helped Mumbaikars during the recent flooding that nearly drowned the city, the other of a young lad who did not think twice and risked his life to chase after robbers who looted a person in broad daylight. The third story is of a girl who has been working consistently and dedicatedly towards making public places disabled-friendly.
Story from Mumbai (Physical Bravery)
H20 has been instrumental in saving lives of three and half thousand people during recent rains and floods in Mumbai. Bollywood Actor Suniel Shetty is actively involved with the organisation. Volunteers from H2O are always ready to lend a helping hand during times of crisis.
Story from Mathura (Physical Bravery)
Rahul is a student from Mathura. He is a hero for his colleagues and friends. On the day of the incidence when three robbers ran after looting a person, Rahul bravely followed the robbers and got hold one of them and handed him to the police. A bullet had hit Rahul and he was bed ridden for four months.
Story from Bhopal (Social Bravery), Rajasthan
Arushi has been working to make public places disabled-friendly. Cyber café, hotels, banks… Arushi has been working with all these to make life better for physically challenged people. Her sincere efforts have benefited children the most with textbooks available in braille, audio tapes designed as per school syllabus. Veteran filmmaker Gulzar has also authorised Arushi to publish fifteen of his books in Braille.
ABOUT JAANBAAZ
Jaanbaaz, STAR News’ newest show features stories of award-winning real life acts of bravery. Jaanbaaz telecasts as a half-hour weekly show on Sunday at 8.30 p.m.
STAR News has exclusive rights to telecast these real life acts of bravery, which have been awarded the prestigious Red & White Bravery Awards. The Red & White Bravery Awards have come to symbolize the foremost recognition of ‘selfless bravery’ in the country over the years. With the launch of this new show STAR News aims to give its recipients their due recognition and through the show hopes to inspire similar acts of courage, valour and compassion. The show will feature re-enactment of these selfless acts of bravery and relive the experience through firsthand accounts from the victims, the ‘saviour’, and eyewitnesses.
ABOUT STAR NEWS
STAR News, the first Indian news channel, is a joint venture between ABP TV, a 100 % subsidiary of ABP Pvt. Ltd.; and STAR News Broadcasting Ltd., wholly-owned subsidiary of the STAR Group; two of the biggest brands in Indian media. The Channel is best defined by a fair and balanced approach that combines prompt reporting with insightful analysis of news and current affairs. Living up to its motto of “Aapko Rakhe Aagey”, STAR News is a people’s channel that focuses on relevant news in a cutting-edge format. Since its conception, the Channel has grown to command a viewership of over 20 million Indian homes. Today, STAR News is available in the Indian subcontinent, South-East Asia, Central Asia, UK, USA and Australia, making it the first and only Global Indian News Channel.
For further information, please contact:
Rashmi Naik / Navin Tauro
Vaishnavi Corporate Communications
Tel: 022 5656 8787 / Fax: 022 5656 8788
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.
