Archive · 14 Dec 2025
India to launch new CPI series with expanded data
India is going to start using a new way to measure how much prices are changing, called the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
This new CPI will use data from more places, including big cities and villages.
It will also use information from popular shops and online stores.
The new CPI will start in early 2026 and will give more detailed information about prices in different parts of the country.
The government is using new technology, like computers and artificial intelligence, to make sure the data is accurate and reliable.
This will help them make better decisions about money and the economy.
India will launch a new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with a base year of 2024 in the first quarter of 2026.
The new CPI will include data from 280 markets covering cities and villages, with 1,395 urban and 1,465 rural markets.
Data will be collected from popular shops, e-commerce platforms in 12 major cities, and administrative sources like Indian Railways and the Oil Ministry.
The new series will provide more granular data dissemination, including All India and State-wise item level retail inflation data for rural, urban, and combined sectors.
Modern technology, including AI, NLP, and cloud-based software, will be used to improve the accuracy and reliability of the CPI.
- Who
- National Statistical Office (NSO)
- What
- Launch of a new Consumer Price Index (CPI) series with a base year of 2024
- When
- First quarter of 2026
- Where
- India (12 major cities and rural markets)
- Why
- To present a more comprehensive print of retail inflation and improve the representativeness, reliability, accuracy, and overall quality of the CPI
- Base Year
- 2024
- Urban Markets
- 1,395
- Rural Markets
- 1,465
- Data Sources
- Physical outlets, e-commerce platforms, administrative data
- Launch Timeline
- First quarter of 2026
- Data Granularity
- All India and State-wise item level retail inflation data
- Technology Used
- AI, NLP, Python, Django, PostgreSQL