The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Power are working on a plan to scale up production of induction heaters and compatible cooking vessels as part of measures to reduce dependence on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) amid the ongoing West Asia crisis, according to government sources.
DPIIT secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal, and Director-General of Foreign Trade Lav Agarwal had held a meeting to explore ways to step up production of induction heaters and cooking vessels, as the Centre looks to keep pace with the growing demand of these appliances and reduce dependence on cooking gas amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.
There has been a sharp rise in the sale of induction cookers since the war broke out due to a growing concern among masses over LPG availability and price volatility. According to media reports, data from Flipkart till mid of March indicates that sales of induction cooktops have tripled in the past four to five days compared with the previous three to four weeks.
According to the sources, if the conflict persists for several more months, India will have to be ready to tackle the challenges that may arise. Thus, the government is preparing contingency measures.
As a measure to compensate for the curb in the usage of LPG, the government had earlier distributed kerosene in 21 states and Union Territories, to be used as an alternative fuel, particularly for household cooking and lighting needs. While the government has assured that there is no need to opt for panic booking and has prioritized household supply over commercial usages, the ground reality seems different. According to media reports, residents across cities report delays of up to two weeks as black marketing of cylinders deepens the crisis. Commercial LPG cylinder prices in India increased significantly by ₹195.50–₹218 per 19-kg cylinder effective April 1, 2026.