Inflation Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper III)

October 2026

• 13 Oct 2026

  IMF upgrades global growth but warns of fiscal strain

  The IMF's latest World Economic Outlook has upgraded its 2026 growth forecast while cautioning that developing nations must prioritize fiscal consolidation. Despite these projections, the Fund highlighted that high debt levels and...

• 13 Oct 2026

  Retail Inflation Rises to 23-Month High of 5.5% on Food and Fuel Pressures

  India's headline retail inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), climbed to a 23-month high of 5.5 percent in September 2026, up sharply from 4.8 percent in August. The acceleration was propelled by elevated price...

• 08 Oct 2026

  RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.50 Percent

  The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee has raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50 percent, shifting its monetary stance to calibrated tightening from neutral. This hike, coming after nearly three and a half years, is aimed at...

September 2026

• 18 Sep 2026

  Moody's Raises India's FY27 GDP Growth Forecast to 7%

  Global rating agency Moody's has raised India's GDP growth forecast for the fiscal year 2027 to 7 percent. The agency cited India's economic resilience despite ongoing challenges in West Asia. However, it cautioned that elevated energy...

• 16 Sep 2026

  Retail and Wholesale Inflation Surge Signals Monetary Tightening Risks

  Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rose to a 20-month high of 4.8% in August, driven primarily by rising food prices, while Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation climbed to 9.92%. The sharp uptick across both retail and wholesale...

• 15 Sep 2026

  Wholesale Price Index inflation rises to 9.92% in August

  Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation accelerated to 9.92% in August, driven by a broad-based rise in prices across primary food articles, energy inputs, and manufactured items. Manufactured products recorded a series high...

• 09 Sep 2026

  Debate on Effectiveness of Inflation Targeting in India

  A recent economic analysis raised questions regarding the efficacy of flexible inflation targeting in India due to a flat Phillips curve. Household inflation expectations in India consistently remain higher than projections by the...

• 03 Sep 2026

  Volatility in Onion Prices Highlights Post-Harvest Supply Gaps

  Retail onion prices have experienced sharp increases across the country, rising over 70 percent compared to the previous year due to localized weather disruptions and seasonal supply transitions. The sudden price surge has brought...

August 2026

• 21 Aug 2026

  Centre Permits Duty-Free Raw Sugar Imports to Stabilize Prices

  The Union Government has allowed duty-free imports of up to 10 lakh tonnes of raw sugar until October 31 to stabilize domestic retail prices and prevent supply shortfalls. Additionally, the government imposed strict stockholding limits...

• 16 Aug 2026

  WPI Inflation Eases Under New Base Year

  India's Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation eased marginally to 9.78% in July 2026, driven by cooling food, fuel, and power prices. This marks the first month-on-month drop under the government's newly implemented WPI data...

July 2026

• 19 Jul 2026

  Retail Inflation Breaches Targets, Restraining Rate Cuts

  India's retail inflation has breached the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) medium-term target, leaving limited scope for the central bank to ease interest rates. Driven primarily by volatile food prices and global geopolitical supply chain...

• 17 Jul 2026

  Deciphering India's three major inflation indices

  Economists are analyzing the divergence between India's three primary inflation measures (the Consumer Price Index, the Wholesale Price Index, and the GDP deflator) to understand consumption trends. While CPI reflects the direct impact...

• 14 Jul 2026

  Retail inflation climbs to 18-month high of 4.4 percent

  Driven by a surge in food and fuel prices, India's retail inflation (CPI) reached 4.4 percent in June 2026. Economists suggest that a lacklustre monsoon may continue to put upward pressure on food prices through July, potentially...

• 13 Jul 2026

  El Nino risks pose challenges for India's growth and inflation

  Financial experts and meteorologists have warned that a resurgent El Nino and below-normal monsoon patterns could affect India's fiscal year 2027 macroeconomic outlook. Heatwaves and erratic rains are expected to challenge agricultural...

• 08 Jul 2026

  Assessing the Economic Toll of El Nino

  A severe El Nino cycle has raised macroeconomic concerns in India by disrupting the monsoon distribution pattern. A weakened monsoon affects the Indian economy through three main channels: reducing agricultural output, diminishing rural...

• 08 Jul 2026

  Geopolitical Friction in West Asia Pressures Indian Energy Security

  Renewed tensions in West Asia and recent shipping disruptions have triggered an upward spike in international crude oil prices. This volatility has led to a deprecation of the Indian Rupee against the US Dollar, highlighting India's...

• 04 Jul 2026

  Energy Security: Strategic Petroleum Reserves and Domestic Fuel Pricing

  The Union Petroleum Ministry clarified that domestic petrol and diesel prices will only experience a downward correction once cheaper crude oil shipments actually reach Indian refineries. Highlighting India's robust energy security...