Prices of essential commodities in India, including rice, wheat, and pulses, have shown a decline, reflecting effective government measures to stabilize the market despite external pressures from the ongoing war in West Asia. Consumer affairs secretary Nidhi Khare reported that rice is now priced at ₹42.61 per kg, down from ₹42.89 a year ago, while wheat has decreased to ₹31 per kg from ₹31.76. Wheat flour (atta) also saw a reduction, now at ₹36.98 per kg compared to ₹37.6 last year. Pulses, which have historically driven food inflation, have softened significantly, with tur dal dropping to ₹122.05 per kg from ₹130.63, and gram dal decreasing to ₹85.04 from ₹87.59. The government is actively monitoring prices of 40 essential commodities daily to mitigate imported inflation risks. Retail inflation reached a 10-month high of 3.21% in February, influenced by rising vegetable prices. Experts emphasize the need for the government to ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their produce while managing consumer costs.