UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Index Numbers of Wholesale Price in India for the Month of January, 2026 (Base Year: 2011-12)

Q1. In India the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI-Combined) are compiled by agencies functioning under different Union Ministries. How many distinct Union Ministries are involved across the compilation of these two official inflation indices?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q2. With reference to the institutional arrangements for compiling India's wholesale and retail price indices, consider the following statements: 1. The WPI is compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, whereas the CPI is compiled by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation. 2. Both the WPI and the CPI are compiled by the same nodal statistical ministry of the Union Government. 3. Unlike the CPI, the WPI does not capture price changes in the services sector. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The WPI is compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, whereas the CPI is compiled by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation.
  2. Both the WPI and the CPI are compiled by the same nodal statistical ministry of the Union Government.
  3. Unlike the CPI, the WPI does not capture price changes in the services sector.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Comparing the current WPI series (base 2011-12) with its predecessor (base 2004-05), consider the following statements: 1. The 2011-12 series expanded the commodity basket relative to the 2004-05 series. 2. The base year was revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12 on the recommendation of a Working Group chaired by Dr Saumitra Chaudhuri. 3. The 2011-12 series retained indirect taxes in its price definition, exactly as in the 2004-05 series. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2011-12 series expanded the commodity basket relative to the 2004-05 series.
  2. The base year was revised from 2004-05 to 2011-12 on the recommendation of a Working Group chaired by Dr Saumitra Chaudhuri.
  3. The 2011-12 series retained indirect taxes in its price definition, exactly as in the 2004-05 series.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. How many commodities constitute the item basket of the current (base 2011-12) series of India's Wholesale Price Index?

  • A. 676
  • B. 697
  • C. 706
  • D. 831

Q5. With reference to methodological changes introduced in the 2011-12 WPI series compared with the earlier series, consider the following statements: 1. Item-level aggregation was shifted from the Arithmetic Mean to the Geometric Mean. 2. A separate WPI Food Index, combining food articles and food products, was introduced for the first time. 3. Like the earlier series, the 2011-12 series continued to be compiled by the Central Statistics Office. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Item-level aggregation was shifted from the Arithmetic Mean to the Geometric Mean.
  2. A separate WPI Food Index, combining food articles and food products, was introduced for the first time.
  3. Like the earlier series, the 2011-12 series continued to be compiled by the Central Statistics Office.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. The current (base 2011-12) series of the Wholesale Price Index, with its revised methodology, is compiled and released by which one of the following?

  • A. Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
  • B. National Statistical Office, which alone compiles every official price index in India
  • C. Central Statistics Office, Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
  • D. Monetary Policy Department, Reserve Bank of India

Q7. With reference to the group weights in the 2011-12 series of the WPI, consider the following statements: 1. Manufactured Products alone carry a weight exceeding the combined weight of Primary Articles and Fuel & Power. 2. Fuel & Power carries a higher weight than Primary Articles in the basket. 3. The derived WPI Food Index carries a weight higher than that of Fuel & Power. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Manufactured Products alone carry a weight exceeding the combined weight of Primary Articles and Fuel & Power.
  2. Fuel & Power carries a higher weight than Primary Articles in the basket.
  3. The derived WPI Food Index carries a weight higher than that of Fuel & Power.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. In the 2011-12 series of India's Wholesale Price Index, which one of the following major groups carries the highest weight?

  • A. Primary Articles
  • B. Fuel & Power
  • C. Manufactured Products
  • D. WPI Food Index

Q9. What was the provisional annual (year-on-year) rate of inflation based on the All-India Wholesale Price Index for January 2026?

  • A. 0.83%
  • B. 1.30%
  • C. 1.81%
  • D. 2.21%

Q10. The monthly Wholesale Price Index figures, including the January 2026 release, are compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser functioning under which one of the following Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Commerce & Industry
  • B. Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation
  • C. Ministry of Finance
  • D. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution

Q11. Under India's Flexible Inflation Targeting framework, which one of the following is used by the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee as the nominal anchor for inflation?

  • A. Wholesale Price Index
  • B. Consumer Price Index (Combined)
  • C. WPI Food Index
  • D. GDP deflator

Q12. With reference to the release and revision arrangements of the Wholesale Price Index, consider the following pairings: 1. Release frequency of WPI — Monthly 2. Day of the monthly WPI release — 14th of the month (or next working day) 3. Interval after which provisional figures become final — 10 weeks 4. Agency that releases the WPI — National Statistical Office Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Release frequency of WPI — Monthly
  2. Day of the monthly WPI release — 14th of the month (or next working day)
  3. Interval after which provisional figures become final — 10 weeks
  4. Agency that releases the WPI — National Statistical Office
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4