News Broadcasting
ZEE News kicks off its election programming with ‘Bhai vs Bhai’
MUMBAI: As election season kicks in, Zee News has launched a series of new shows which highlight and discuss the issues around upcoming assembly elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Among these are 'Taal Thok Ke: Special Edition' which caters to the issues related to elections with esteemed panel of politicians and 'India ka DNA Test City Edition' in which ZEE News anchors and reporters discover which way the election wind is blowing in different cities.
Another content innovation which will hook the viewers is 'Bhai vs Bhai'. The new show will start airing from October 10 and will be telecast at 7pm from Monday to Friday.
'Bhai vs Bhai' will be hosted by two brothers – Shehzad and Tehseen Poonawalla. While Shehzad – earlier in Congress – rose to prominence after he claimed Rahul Gandhi's election as party's president was rigged, his brother Tehseen has been in the news for filing several PILs in high profile cases like the Rafale deal, Aadhaar case and against the protests before release of 'Padmaavat'.
ZEE News believes that the political discourse which happens in families in India is very important, and that is why this new 'family show' will be hosted by two brothers. Both the hosts will hold debates, conversations and arguments with the same fervour which is usually heard during debates among family members. The show will also include a segment called 'Pariwar Ki Baat' in which we will go door-to-door and talk to different families in order to know the actual issues and gauge the mood of general public.
'Pariwar ki Baat' in itself will be a unique show which will showcase real political arguments that happen between a father and a son, two brothers or other family members.
ZEE News believes politics should not be ignored, otherwise it will ignore the public. 'Bhai vs Bhai' will be family dose of politics, a school which we invite you to be a part of. This school is going to teach you 'smart politics'.
This is an attempt to make people politically aware before the 2019 elections. Apart from making people aware about Constitution, democracy, rights and duties, our shows will also take up day-to-day affairs to build a logical public opinion on them.
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.
