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For the past several decades, the Indian government has lpg cylinder Many schemes have been launched to increase the use of. Like Ujjwala Yojana etc., poor families got cylinders at cheap rates and got freedom from smoke. But recently, due to the ongoing tension and war-like situation between America, Iran and Israel, gas prices have increased across the world. In India too, the supply of LPG has been affected and people are now afraid that cylinders will become expensive or availability will reduce. Because of this, many families have now started looking for other methods of cooking other than LPG.

There are many options in the market such as:

• electric pressure cooker
• Solar Cooker (powered by sunlight)
• Biogas Plant (Gobar Gas)
• air fryer
• microwave oven

Of all these, induction cooktop has become the most popular. People are liking it because:

• It cooks food very fast
• saves electricity
• The kitchen remains clean, no smoke or soot
• Better for children and home safety (no risk of gas leaks, less risk of fire)

Now the question is whether it is cheaper to cook food with LPG or induction?

According to a report in ‘The Hindu’ newspaper, LPG has less cooking capacity. About 60% of the heat from the gas flame is wasted in the air, that is, only 40% of the money you pay on gas is actually used in heating the food. Currently, a normal 14.2 kg non-subsidized LPG cylinder costs around Rs 913 in Delhi. As of March 2026, there has been an increase of Rs 60 recently. On the other hand, the efficiency of induction cooktop is around 90%. In this, heat is generated directly inside the vessel, the air does not get heated, hence there is very little wastage. Induction requires about 78 units of electricity to produce the same amount of useful heat that a full LPG cylinder gives. If the electricity rate is considered to be Rs 8 per unit which can be in the upper slab in Delhi, then the total expenditure will be around Rs 624. This means that compared to LPG, there can be a saving of about Rs 289 (913 – 624) on each cylinder. If you use 2-3 cylinders a month, you can save up to Rs 500-900 a month.

What should you keep in mind?

Electricity rates in Delhi increase according to the slab. If your total electricity usage is more than 800-1200 units, then the per unit rate reaches Rs 7-8. In such a situation, the savings may be slightly less. In some states the first 100-200 units are free or very cheap, there induction is even cheaper. There are also initial costs associated with switching to induction:

A good induction cooktop is available for Rs 2000 to Rs 4000 (same as a medium-range gas stove).

For induction, special utensils are required – stainless steel or cast iron, which have a flat and magnetic bottom. Old utensils will not work. It may cost Rs 3000-8000 to get the complete set.

Overall initial investment can be up to Rs 5000-12000. But due to low daily running costs, most families recover this money in 8-12 months. After that savings continue every month.

There are more benefits:

• the kitchen remains cold
• Easy to clean, no black spots
• No need for much ventilation or chimney

But induction is not right for everyone. LPG is still more convenient especially in restaurants, hotels and big catering places. Buying big burners and induction appliances can cost up to Rs 3-4 lakh there, which is 2-3 times more than a gas system. Also, work stops due to power cut, whereas gas can run with backup, hence LPG is still a reliable option in commercial places.