India faces an escalating inflation challenge, particularly in food, driven by impending supply shocks from deficient monsoon rainfall and a strengthening El Niño. This follows a period of low inflation, with recent CPI and WPI data confirming a worrying upward trend. Rising input costs, including energy and fertilizers, further exacerbate price pressures. The author suggests monetary policies are ineffective for food-driven inflation. Instead, ensuring adequate food supply, leveraging buffer stocks, and providing income support for vulnerable rural populations through employment guarantee programs are crucial to mitigate the impact and maintain growth.