RBI

Opinion

The Quiet Inflation: How Fuel Hikes Are Re-engineering the Indian Middle-Class Budget

Fuel prices are not just numbers on petrol pump boards; they are the hidden base cost of modern life. Every rise in petrol, diesel or CNG quietly enters school transport fees, cab fares, food delivery, grocery prices, farm logistics and small-business margins. This article explains why India’s fuel-price cycle has become a silent middle-class crisis, reshaping household budgets without always creating headline-level outrage.

Opinion

Strait of Hormuz Crisis 2026: How a Distant War Reached Your Petrol Pump

A narrow sea route between Iran and Oman can decide the cost of fuel, food, transport and inflation in India. The Strait of Hormuz is not only a Middle Eastern flashpoint; it is one of the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoints, carrying a major share of global oil and LNG flows. For India, every escalation around Hormuz is a reminder that energy security, household budgets and foreign policy are now deeply connected.