Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) has launched the National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) to promote electric cooking in Indian households, offering a 1,200-watt induction cooktop with compatible cookware for Rs 6,990, inclusive of taxes.
The programme was launched by Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal. EESL said the initiative is intended to improve kitchen safety, energy efficiency and sustainable household practices by extending modern electric cooking solutions beyond workplaces and into homes.
As part of the launch, EESL CEO Akhilesh Kumar Dixit announced the special household offer. The package includes a 1,200W induction cooktop and compatible cookware at the stated price of Rs 6,990 per unit. The announcement did not specify the number of units available, the duration of the offer or the distribution mechanism.
EESL said the NECP follows a multi-pronged strategy focused on household safety, affordability and environmental sustainability. The programme is positioned as an effort to encourage households to adopt electric cooking while continuing their existing cooking practices.
Dixit said electric cooking would allow households to preserve their cooking traditions while adopting safer, cleaner and more energy-efficient practices. The statement did not provide comparative figures on energy consumption, emissions, household savings or safety outcomes from the programme.
Several states, including Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, have taken initiatives to implement induction-based electric cooking solutions, according to EESL. The announcement did not provide details of the specific schemes, beneficiary numbers or implementation timelines in these states.
Telangana has been identified as having significant potential for the adoption of electric cooking solutions. EESL said implementation in the state could benefit households and have a major impact on economic and environmental sustainability, but it did not announce a Telangana-specific rollout plan, target or funding arrangement.
The programme places household cooking within the wider energy-efficiency responsibilities of public institutions. Its practical reach will depend on how the cooktops are supplied, how households access compatible cookware, and whether state-level initiatives are developed with clear implementation arrangements. Those details were not included in the launch announcement.
EESL’s next step is to promote electric cooking solutions through the NECP and support their adoption across households. Further information on availability, state-level implementation and the terms of the Rs 6,990 offer remains to be provided by the agency.
