Crisil’s October estimates, reported by PTI and NDTV Profit, put India’s modeled vegetarian meal at Rs 31.2, up 12% year over year, as home-cooking costs increased.
The non-vegetarian version cost Rs 59.2, 9% more than in October 2025. From September, the vegetarian measure rose 1%, while the non-vegetarian one declined 1%.
Broiler chicken accounts for nearly half of the modeled non-vegetarian meal’s cost. Its price rose 5% from a year earlier but fell 2% from September; Crisil linked the monthly decline to weaker festive-period demand.
Rice prices were 10% higher year over year. Crisil also cited delayed harvesting and a 40% fall in October arrivals, as well as uncertainty among market participants about the availability of fine and super-fine rice.
Onions reached Rs 53 per kilogram, more than twice their year-earlier price. Crisil pointed to a 5% to 6% decline in rabi output, stock drawdowns and later kharif shipments. Tomato prices rose 6% year over year; the firm cited festival-season demand and slow deliveries from growing areas in southern and western India.
Vegetable oil prices increased 13% year over year. Crisil cited geopolitical uncertainty and risks to palm oil production from El Nino. It also listed higher LPG prices as a contributor to the vegetarian meal’s cost.
The indicator averages ingredient prices across north, south, east and west India, keeping ingredient weights fixed as prices move. The vegetarian model includes roti, onion, tomato, potato, rice, dal, curd and salad; its non-vegetarian version replaces dal with broiler chicken, whose price Crisil estimates.
Crisil’s Oct. 8 report recorded September year-over-year increases of 10% for the vegetarian plate and 6% for the non-vegetarian one. PTI and NDTV Profit reported the later October estimates.
