Govt to Release March 2025 Inflation Data Today: New CPI Basket Includes OTT, Airfares

Consumer Price Index shift to 2024 base year adds 59 new items; March numbers due at 4 pm amid high oil price concerns.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation will release India’s retail inflation data for March 2025 at 4 pm on Monday, 13 April 2026. This is the third monthly inflation print under the new base year 2024, which replaced the previous 2012 series.

New CPI Basket Unveiled

The government has expanded the inflation basket from 299 to 358 items. Officials added 49 new products, taking the total to 308, while services increased from 40 to 50. New inclusions now track rural house rent, CNG, PNG, OTT subscription fees, airfares, railfares, and mobile tariffs. The move aims to reflect current consumption patterns more accurately.

How Retail Inflation Is Calculated

The Consumer Price Index measures price changes in everyday goods, fuel, and services. Inflation rises when demand outpaces supply. Under the new series, weightages have been realigned to capture rural and urban spending habits better. According to officials, the updated methodology provides a truer picture of household cost pressures.

February Inflation Already on the Rise

National Statistical Office data showed retail inflation climbed to 3.21% in February 2026 from a revised 2.74% in January. Rural inflation stood at 3.37%, while urban segments recorded 3.02%. Sources indicated that March figures may extend this rising trend for the fifth consecutive month.

Iran War Impact Looms Large

Crude oil prices surged 71% during the six-week Iran conflict, jumping from $70 to a brief high of $120 per barrel. The Reserve Bank of India’s April 2026 Monetary Policy Committee warned that high oil prices and weather disturbances could push FY27 inflation to 4.6%, significantly higher than FY26’s 2.1%. Governor Sanjay Malhotra noted that imported commodities from Gulf nations face cascading price pressures.

What the New Numbers Will Reveal

Economists tracking this English News Portal India update expect March 2025 inflation to test the RBI’s upper tolerance level if fuel costs pass through fully. The government maintains that domestic food supplies remain adequate. However, global crude volatility remains a key monitorable.

What Next for Policy and Public

The RBI’s next policy response will depend on whether March data shows sustained momentum. Analysts say another uptick could delay any rate cut cycle. For the public, dearer transport, entertainment, and housing rent may follow if oil stays elevated. The ministry will release the full dataset with rural-urban breakups by evening.