Pioneer in short
Food, fuel drives retail inflation
Retail inflation rose marginally to 3.4 per cent in March from 3.21 per cent in February, according to government data released by the National Statistics Office (NSO), under the new Consumer Price Index series with base year 2024. Food inflation climbed to 3.87 per cent from 3.47 per cent, driven by higher prices of gold and silver jewellery, coconut (copra), tomato and cauliflower, even as onion, potato, garlic, arhar dal and chickpeas recorded deflation. Inflation in the electricity, gas and fuels segment stood at 1.65 per cent against 1.52 per cent a month earlier. Rural inflation was at 3.63 per cent, while urban inflation stood at 3.11 per cent, with housing inflation at 2.11 per cent. Among states, Telangana recorded the highest inflation at 5.83 per cent, while Mizoram saw the lowest at 0.66 per cent. Economists said the West Asia crisis has had a mild impact on prices. ASSOCHAM President Nirmal K. Minda noted that stable fuel prices helped contain inflation, while the Reserve Bank of India maintained policy stability. ICRA Limited Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said the uptick reflects early effects of the crisis on fuel-linked items.
Punjab passes sacrilege law
The Punjab Assembly on Monday unanimously passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing stringent punishment, including life imprisonment, for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib. The bill, presented by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a special session, also provides for fines ranging from `5 lakh to `25 lakh. The government said the legislation is aimed at deterring incidents of beadbi (sacrilege) and protecting communal harmony. It argues that existing provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita do not prescribe sufficiently strong punishment for such offences. Speaking after the passage of the bill, Mann said it would act as a strong deterrent and does not require presidential reference, needing only the Governor’s assent. The House saw support from both ruling and opposition members, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa backing the move while seeking clarity on earlier sacrilege-related cases, including the 2015 incidents and subsequent police firing in Faridkot. AAP MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar said stricter punishment was a long-standing demand. The statement of objects noted attempts to disturb peace through sacrilege incidents in recent years. The bill proposes minimum punishment of 10 years, extendable to life imprisonment, signalling a tougher legal stance on religious desecration cases in Punjab.
IMD: Below normal monsoon this year
India is likely to experience below-normal monsoon rainfall this year, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday, citing the probable return of El Niño conditions after three years. The IMD projects seasonal rainfall at 92 per cent of the long-period average (87 cm), with an estimated 80 cm expected between June and September. Below-normal rainfall is forecast across most regions, though parts of the Northeast, Northwest and southern peninsula may see normal to above-normal rains. El Niño, marked by warming in the equatorial Pacific, typically weakens monsoon winds and leads to drier conditions in India. Climate models suggest it may develop by June. Currently, fading La Niña conditions are transitioning to neutral. However, the IMD expects a potential offset later in the season.
