Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reports CPI inflation at 3.2% for February 2026

Exam-focused facts from the 15 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Retail inflation quickened to a 10-month high of 3.2% in February 2026, driven by food and tobacco categories.
CPI inflation was last higher in April 2025 at 3.3%.
Food and beverages inflation rose to 3.35% in February from 2.1% in January.
Inflation in 'paan, tobacco and intoxicants' quickened to 3.5% in February from 2.9% in January.
Core inflation, excluding food and energy, remained unchanged at 3.4% between January and February 2026.
Inflation in 'personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods & services' was 19.6% in February, up from 19.02% in January, driven by higher prices of precious metals.
Economists forecast headline CPI inflation to reach 3.3-3.5% in March 2026 due to LPG price hikes and precious metal costs.