News Broadcasting
Win 1 lakh every hour on Budget Day on CNBC-TV18
– Win your annual household budget every hour by tuning in to CNBC-TV18 on Budget Day
– Answer simple questions on the Budget by SMS to 2622
– Prize money to be won from 10 am – 10 pm on Budget Day on CNBC-TV18
MUMBAI: CNBC-TV18, India’s premier business news channel has lined up innovative and informative shows as pre-cursors to the Budget 2006.The ‘Budget Bonanza Contest’, unique to CNBC-TV18 has been launched this year, to the overwhelming response it received from its viewers.
Viewers tuning into the CNBC-TV18’s Budget programming can win their annual household budget every hour on Budget Day.
On Budget Day, February 28, 2006, winners can win Rs 1 lakh every hour for upto 12 hours i.e. 10 am – 10 pm by answering questions posed by the channel. These questions are straightforward to answer and pertain to the Budget to be announced. Viewers can participate in the Budget Bonanza by sending in their answers via an SMS to 2622.
CNBC-TV18, the leader in budget programming, is also presenting interesting, innovative and informative shows on its channel. ‘The Great Indian Dream’ is the theme for CNBC-TV18’s Budget line up for 2006. CNBC-TV18 will address the question: Will Budget 2006 make or break the Indian dream?
As part of its budget programming, CNBC-TV18 has lined up a one-hour special on the Economic Survey giving an intelligent and comprehensive overview of the booming Indian economy, the India Business Hour Budget Special, LIVE and uninterrupted coverage of the FM’s speech and the CNBC-TV18 and MTV budget fundas , an initiative that will touch base with the youth of the country and how it has affected their lives.
The winners will be declared every hour on CNBC-TV18. Viewers of CNBC-TV18 now stand a chance to win even if the FM’s Union Budget 2006 is not a rewarding experience!
About CNBC-TV18:
CNBC-TVI8 is India’s No.1 business medium. CNBC Asia Pacific holds a strategic equity stake in the Indian registered broadcaster; Television 18. CNBC-TV18 is the undisputed leader in the business. The channel’s benchmark coverage extends from corporate news, financial markets coverage, expert perspective on investing and management to industry verticals and beyond. CNBC-TV18 has been constantly innovating with new genres of programming that helps make business more relevant to different constituencies across India. CNBC-TV18 is currently available in over 20 million households in India.
For further information please contact:
Glen D’Souza/ Janice Goveas / Niketa Tekawade
Hanmer & Partners
56335969/ 55524600
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.
