RAS question
What was India's CPI inflation rate for February 2026 as reported under the new base year 2024?
Correct answer: (A) 3.21%.
India's CPI inflation rate for February 2026, under the new base year 2024=100, was 3.21% on the All India combined measure.
Explanation
MoSPI's PIB release for February 2026 reports the year-on-year inflation rate based on the All India Consumer Price Index with base year 2024=100. For February 2026 over February 2025, the combined national CPI inflation rate is listed as 3.21% provisional, with rural inflation at 3.37% and urban inflation at 3.02%. That makes 3.21% the relevant figure for the standard all-India combined answer. The supplied context also notes that this CPI base-year revision came in the same week as MoSPI's release of a new GDP series with base year 2022-23 and revisions to both CPI and IIP base years, so the question is testing recognition of the updated statistical base as well as the headline inflation number.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) 4.85% is not the February 2026 All India combined CPI inflation rate reported by MoSPI; the release gives 3.21% for that measure.
- (C) 5.12% does not match the provisional combined CPI inflation figure in the PIB release, which is 3.21% under base 2024=100.
- (D) 2.67% is below the reported February 2026 combined CPI inflation rate; MoSPI lists the national combined figure as 3.21%.
Concept
This tests current economic indicators, especially CPI inflation and base-year revisions in India's official statistics. RAS repeatedly asks such figures because they connect macroeconomic awareness with the interpretation of government data releases.