News Broadcasting
Sahara Media Group hires Alok Nair as chief commercial officer
MUMBAI: Sahara Media Group, which includes Sahara’s electronic news channel bouquet of national and regional channels, Rashtriya Sahara editions of Hindi newspapers, as well as Rashtriya Roznama editions of Urdu Newspapers are undergoing strategic and structural changes in terms of content, technology, branding and distribution. Under the process, the group has hired Shri Alok Nair as a Chief Commercial Officer. Shri Nair will contribute in evolving an effective commercial strategy for the Media network. Shri Nair comes with a strong experience in the field of Media broacasting of about two decades with Bennet & Coleman Group, Network 18 and Bloomberg TV India in the past.
On the ongoing changes, Guardian of the Sahara Media Group, Mr. Abhijit Sarkar said, “There is an evident change in media consumption habits, which needs to be understood, apprehended and calibrated to. We are confident that the current strategic changes undertaken the present team at Sahara Media Group will help in better leveraging the depth of our network along with notching up scales to current and future requirements of the viewers.”
Sahara Media Group, CEO & Editor In Chief of Mr. Arup Ghosh, said, “ Sahara Media group is one of the biggest full play media house in the country that cater to regional & national audiences through all mediums – Print, Digital & Broadcast. The group has always remained an Indian hallmark in terms of its technological investments and has one of the widest news gathering or dissemination network. With changes emerging in the entire space of news gathering, dissemination, analysis, presentation and consumption, we are on the path of reinventing ourselves and reclaiming the position, which we deserve, based on our intrinsic strengths. The last few months we have been focusing on content revamp and very soon our viewers will see an energized sharp product. Shri Alok Nair has joined the team and will work on evolving a robust sales and marketing strategy plus contribute towards creation of a robust marketing and branding strategy. We welcome Shri Alok Nair on board and are sure that his experience and skills will help us in achieving our goals.”
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.
