FAO Food Price Index (March 2026)

Due to rising energy and fertilizer costs caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Food Price Index of the Food and Agriculture Organization increased by 2.4% in March 2026, reaching 128.5 points. This marks the second consecutive month of rising global food prices, with vegetable oils (+5.1%) and sugar (+7.2%) recording the highest increases.

Key Highlights of FAO Food Price Index (March 2026)

• Index Level: 128.5 points (up from the revised 125.5 points in February 2026).
• Main Reason: The conflict in the Middle East has increased the cost of oil and fertilizers, leading to higher farming and transportation costs.
• Vegetable Oils (+5.1%) and Sugar (+7.2%): Sugar prices saw the sharpest rise due to expectations that Brazil will divert sugarcane towards ethanol production.
• Cereals (+1.5%): The cereals index increased due to rising wheat prices, although rice prices declined.
• Dairy (+1.2%) and Meat (+1%): Moderate increases were also observed in dairy and meat products.

This index has reached its highest level since September 2025, indicating continued global food inflation pressures.

FAO Food Price Index

• It measures the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.
• It is calculated as the average of five commodity group price indices (cereals, vegetable oils, dairy, meat, and sugar), weighted by their average export shares.
• Base Year: 2014–16

What is FAO?

• The Food and Agriculture Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
• Its goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to sufficient, high-quality food to lead active and healthy lives.

Headquarters

• Rome (Italy)

Membership

• It has 195 members — 194 countries and the European Union.
• FAO operates in more than 130 countries worldwide.

Sister Organizations

• World Food Programme (WFP)
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Major Reports Published by FAO

• The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO)
• The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA)
• The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO)
• The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI)

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Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

The Enforcement Task Force (ETF) of the Commission for Air Quality Management reviewed 175 inspections conducted in the NCR during March 14–26 at its 128th meeting held on April 3, 2026, in New Delhi.

• CAQM is a statutory body established under the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
• Mandate: To ensure better coordination, research, identification, and resolution of issues related to the air quality index, along with matters connected or incidental to it.
• It works for the prevention and control of air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
• It is required to coordinate with the Government of Delhi and neighboring states—Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh—for monitoring air quality.

Powers

• Restrict activities that influence air quality.
• Conduct investigations and research on environmental issues related to air pollution and prepare guidelines for its prevention and control.
• Issue directions on various matters, including inspections, which are binding on the concerned person or authority.
• All orders and directions of the Commission are binding, and every person, officer, or authority is required to comply.
• The Commission is directly accountable to Parliament.

Composition

• Chairperson: A government official of the rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary, with a tenure of 3 years or up to the age of 70 years (whichever is earlier).
• Ex-officio Members: 5 members who are Chief Secretaries/Secretaries of the environment departments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Full-time Technical Members: 3
• Members from NGOs: 3
• Technical Members from:
  • Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
  • Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
  • NITI Aayog

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