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

Exam-focused facts from the 14 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

India’s retail inflation quickened to 3.2% in February 2026, a 10-month high, according to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on 12 March 2026.
CPI inflation was last higher in April 2025 at 3.3%.
Food and beverages inflation rose to 3.35% in February 2026 from 2.1% in January 2026.
Inflation in ‘paan, tobacco and intoxicants’ increased to 3.5% in February 2026 from 2.9% in January 2026.
Core inflation, excluding food & beverages and electricity, gas & other fuels, remained unchanged at 3.4% between January and February 2026.
Inflation in ‘personal care, social protection and miscellaneous goods & services’ stood at 19.6% in February 2026, up from 19.02% in January 2026, driven by higher prices of precious metals.