February 2026 CPI Inflation at 3.21% Under New Base Year 2024
AQuick answer
February 2026 CPI inflation at 3.21% under new base; within RBI band; Rajasthan at ~3.4%.
Key facts
The Ministry of Statistics released CPI data for February 2026 showing year-on-year inflation at 3.21% under the new base year 2024=100, up from 2.75% in January 2026.
Inflation remains within the RBI's 2-6% target band.
The new CPI series has a reduced food weight of 36.75%, meaning food price volatility has less impact on headline inflation numbers.
Rural inflation was slightly higher than urban inflation; food inflation saw a marginal uptick due to seasonal vegetable price increases while core inflation remained stable.
The Ministry of Statistics released the Consumer Price Index data for February 2026 showing year-on-year inflation at 3.21% under the new base year 2024=100, up from 2.75% in January 2026. The data remains comfortably within the RBI's 2-6% inflation target band.
Consumer food price inflation was 3.47% in February 2026, up from 2.13% in January 2026. The reduced food weight (36.75%) in the new CPI series means food price volatility has less impact on headline numbers. Rural inflation was slightly higher than urban inflation. Rajasthan's inflation remained moderate at around 3.4%.
PYQPrelims/PYQ angle
RAS 2023 Inflation targeting framework of Reserve Bank of India — Both examine the RBI's flexible inflation targeting band and monthly CPI readings under the new base year.
Mains angle
Q: Examine the implications of February 2026 Consumer Price Index inflation at 3.21 percent under the new 2024 base year, including the reduced 36.75 percent food weight, for the Reserve Bank of India's flexible inflation targeting framework and Rajasthan's regional price stability.
Answer (50 words):
February 2026 Consumer Price Index inflation stood at 3.21 percent under the new 2024 base year, up from 2.75 percent in January 2026, comfortably within the Reserve Bank of India's 2-6 percent band. Reduced food weight of 36.75 percent moderated headline volatility; Rajasthan's inflation stayed moderate at around 3.4 percent.
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What did the Ministry of Statistics report for February 2026 CPI inflation?
The Ministry of Statistics released Consumer Price Index data for February 2026 showing year-on-year inflation at 3.21% under the new base year 2024=100. This was up from 2.75% in January 2026.
How did the February 2026 CPI inflation reading compare with the RBI target band?
The February 2026 CPI inflation data remained comfortably within the RBI's 2-6% inflation target band.
What happened to food inflation and core inflation in the February 2026 CPI data?
Food inflation saw a marginal uptick due to seasonal vegetable price increases, while core inflation remained stable.
How did the new CPI series affect headline inflation, and what were the rural and Rajasthan readings like?
The reduced food weight of 36.75% in the new CPI series means food price volatility has less impact on headline numbers. Rural inflation was slightly higher than urban inflation, while Rajasthan's inflation remained moderate at around 3.4%.
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