Minister Pralhad cites El Nino as reason behind 4.8% retail inflation

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said 4.8% retail inflation in August 2026 was the highest under PM Modi, and attributed it to El Niño phenomenon. He noted that the retail inflation was nearly 1% or 1.5% before the Iran war. El Nino is a climate pattern that weakens Indian monsoon by warming the surface of the equatorial Pacific Ocean.