Page 62 - Policy Economic Report - September 2026

POLICY AND ECONOMIC
OIL & GAS MARKET

Addressing the gathering, Shri Pankaj Agarwal noted that energy security is the real driver behind
India's shift to electric cooking. Due to the ongoing global conflict and rising price of LPG, transitioning
to e-cooking is not only a strategic shift but also an operational choice. He stated that the enabling
base for this transition already exists, citing schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar
Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which provide a strong foundation for
promoting e-cooking appliances in the residential sector. At the same time, he acknowledged that the
barriers to wider adoption have been behavioural and infrastructural, ranging from chef and
consumer comfort with the taste of food cooked on induction to gaps in local distribution capacity.
Looking ahead, he identified awareness creation as the fastest lever to drive demand and accelerate
the mainstreaming of electric cooking across the country.

In his keynote address, Shri Krushna Chandra Panigrahy, Director General, BEE, welcomed
representatives from the Ministry of Power, CLASP, industry, hospitality, PSUs, manufacturers, and
chefs, and thanked them for their role in advancing India's e-cooking ecosystem. He said India's energy
transition isn't just about cleaner energy sources; it is also about using energy more efficiently, and
electric cooking brings together efficiency, energy security, convenience, and sustainability in one
shift. He announced that BEE is inviting manufacturers, distributors, system integrators, and solution
providers to register for the Go Electric Commercial Electric Cooking Vendor Directory, a public
platform that will help hotels, restaurants, canteens, hospitals, and institutions find credible
providers. He also shared that BEE is working with the Bureau of Indian Standards to develop a
Standards & Labeling framework for commercial induction hobs. Shri. Panigrahy informed that BEE’s
objective is to move beyond individual demonstration projects towards a mature commercial e-
cooking ecosystem, "where users have confidence in the technology, manufacturers understand
market requirements, and policymakers have the evidence needed to support its scale-up."
The inaugural session was followed by a Commercial Induction Chef Challenge, where three chefs
prepared dishes using induction cooktops. The demonstration enabled participants to observe the
cooking performance, ease of use, heat control, and cooking time of induction technology.

The event concluded with closing remarks from BEE, reiterating the Bureau’s commitment to working
with the Ministry of Power, CLASP, manufacturers, industry associations, public sector enterprises and
commercial kitchen operators to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient electric cooking across
India. The event reaffirmed the shared responsibility of the Government, industry and hospitality
sector to move India’s commercial kitchens from technology demonstration to real-world adoption,
in line with the vision of a Viksit and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

7. Export of Power to Nepal Approved

Ministry of Power has accorded approval for the export of power, for 18 hours a day (00:00 hours to
18:00 hours) to Nepal Electricity Authority from 13 September 2026 to 31 December, 2026.

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