Cut your time and electricity/gas when you are cooking vegetables and rice/ pasta. You don't have to separately cook rice and then boil vegetables on diffeent stoves. A simple investment will save you a lot on time, gas and electricity.

Buy a colander or use one that you have.

Chop the vegetables and put them in the colander and put it above the rice or the pasta you are cooking in the pressure cooker or direct flame.By the time your rice or pasta is cooked, the steam will also boil the vegetables on top.

Same tip can be used for dals but you might have to use a cup filled with water to ensure that the dal is well cooked.

(AW- Anil)