The country’s inflation rate reached 3.48% in 2026, which is the highest level in the last 13 months. The Reserve Bank has predicted an average inflation of 4.6% for the entire financial year 2026-27. It is expected to reach 5.2% in the third quarter (July-September). But the real question is when has inflation had the worst impact on the country? We have tried to understand those most difficult periods after 1947, when prices had made people’s lives extremely difficult. We will talk about those 6 worst times, when the prices of things everywhere were on fire…

1. 1973-74: Oil shock and inflation crossing 20%

According to the report of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), this was the period when India saw inflation crossing 20% ​​for the first time after independence. The biggest reason for this was the global oil crisis of 1973. Due to the oil embargo by Arab countries, the prices of crude oil increased four times within a year, due to which the economy of the entire world was shaken. For a country like India, which imported most of its oil needs, this was a nightmare. Also the drought of 1972 and 1974 ruined the crops. A severe food crisis arose in the country. The prices of wheat, sugar, edible oil and everything were sky high.

• How bad were the circumstances: That year, the inflation rate based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) had reached a record level of 25.2%. Government figures show that by the end of December 1973, prices were 26% higher than the previous year. The situation was so bad that the budget of 1973 was called ‘Black Budget’.
• outcome: It had a direct impact on the public. There was severe pressure on foreign exchange reserves and a deficit of Rs 437.7 crore was recorded in 1973-74, whereas a year earlier there was a surplus of Rs 100.3 crore.

2. 1979–80: Iran’s revolution and second oil storm

The country had not yet fully recovered from the shock of 1973 when the second oil crisis occurred in 1979. According to the India Budget report ‘The Economic Situation in 1979-80’, this time the reason was the Islamic Revolution in Iran, due to which oil production there came to a standstill. Later the Iran-Iraq war added fuel to the fire. The global supply of oil decreased by only 4%, but the panic in the market was so great that the price of crude oil more than doubled in the next 12 months. There was severe drought in many parts of the country.

• How bad were the circumstances: Although the consumer inflation rate was 6.28% in 1979 as compared to 28.6% in 1974, it jumped to 11.35% in 1980. The rise in prices in the first half of 1979-80 was very rapid and in July alone prices had increased by 4.6%.
• outcome: This crisis changed the entire map of India’s economic policies, due to which efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on oil intensified.

3. 1991: On the verge of bankruptcy

According to Techniques International Journal for Engineering Research (TIJER), the year 1991 brought the biggest crisis in India’s economic history. In fact, the country was struggling with the problem of balance of payments since 1985. Then the increase in oil prices due to the Gulf War, trade impact due to the disintegration of the Soviet Union and political instability together made the situation worse.

• How bad were the circumstances: The inflation rate had reached approximately 13.6%. But the real crisis was the foreign exchange reserves, which had dwindled to barely enough for three weeks of imports. The country was standing on the verge of bankruptcy.
• outcome: The government had to mortgage 47 tonnes of its gold to take a loan from the IMF. This crisis forced India to open its economy and undertake historic economic reforms (LPG reforms) of 1991.

4. 1998-2000: Onion and politics

According to the report of World Bank Blogs, the inflation of this period was limited to the common man’s kitchen and this can be gauged from the fact that it toppled governments. In fact, in 1998, the onion crop failed badly, causing its prices to skyrocket. The situation in Delhi was so bad that BJP had to pay a heavy price in the elections.

• How bad were the circumstances: The dropsy disease spread due to adulteration of onion and mustard oil added fuel to the fire. Consumer Price Index (CPI) data shows that there was a sharp rise in inflation in 1998-99 and in November 1998 it reached a record level of 19.7% annually.
• outcome: This ‘onion politics’ brought down the BJP government in the 1998 Delhi Assembly elections and formed the Congress government under the leadership of Sheila Dikshit. This was a lesson that inflation is not just an issue of economics but also the biggest issue of politics.

5. 2009-2013: A long period of double-digit inflation

According to Capital Mind’s report ‘The History of Inflation in India’, these were those five years when continuous high inflation robbed the common man. After the global recession of 2008, governments around the world spent heavily to save the economy. This resulted in a huge surge in commodity prices. In India too, the prices of food items and fuel continued to increase. Apart from this, there was very little rainfall in 2009, due to which the production was badly affected. Then in 2010, excessive rain and floods further ruined the crops.

• How bad were the circumstances: India faced prolonged high inflation between 2009-10 and 2013-14. During this period the average annual rate remained in double digits. In January 2013, retail inflation had increased to 10.79%, of which the rate of food and beverages was 13.36%.
• outcome: This continuous inflation further fueled the anger against corruption in the country and the Anna movement of 2011 became the biggest proof of this.

6. 2020-2022: Corona, war and supply chain devastation

According to the India Budget report, this is the latest phase when the world, which was somehow recovering after the Corona epidemic, suffered another big shock. In 2020, the supply chain around the world was ruined due to the lockdown caused by the Corona epidemic. After this, the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in 2022, which sent the prices of edible oils and fuel skyrocketing.

• How bad were the circumstances: During the pandemic itself, the consumer inflation rate reached 6.6% in 2020. After this, due to the war, the Wholesale Inflation Rate (WPI) broke all records and in May 2022 it reached the highest level of 16.63%.
• outcome: To control inflation, RBI had to continuously increase the repo rate, due to which the EMI of the common man increased and the pace of the economy got slowed down.

US Iran Peace Talks in Pakistan: US Vice President JD Vance is going to reach Pakistan’s capital Islamabad shortly, where he will lead the entire American delegation. This visit is taking place at a time when there is immense pressure on the US administration to end the ongoing war with Iran. Deep differences have emerged regarding this war, from the American public to the administration itself. In such a situation, the biggest challenge before Vance will be to get a strong and concrete ceasefire agreement in Islamabad, on which the eyes of the whole world are fixed.

American public outcry against the war

According to Al Jazeera report, according to various opinion polls, two out of every three American citizens want this war to end now. People believe that this war has crossed its limits. There is a huge resentment among the public that due to the war, fuel prices are skyrocketing and everyday goods have become expensive due to the increase in energy costs. Inflation in America is once again going up, which has created big political problems for the Trump administration.

There is no consensus even within the administration
The surprising thing is that there was never a consensus within the Trump administration itself about starting this war. Many people inside the government were against this military move. Now these internal differences have become a matter of public discussion.

JD Vance’s biggest test
It is worth noting that Vice President JD Vance had been the most vocal opponent of starting this war from the beginning. But now see the twist of fate, he has been given the command of the American team in Islamabad this weekend.

Iran’s 10 major conditions on which the ceasefire depends

Iran has set 10 major conditions to end the war, once fulfilled, immediate ceasefire can be implemented on all fronts.

• The ongoing wars in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen should be ended completely.
• The war against Iran should be ended permanently without any time limit.
• All conflicts going on in the entire region should be ended completely.
• The Strait of Hormuz should be reopened.
• Clear protocols should be put in place to ensure safe and free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran should be fully compensated for the war damages and reconstruction costs.
• Full commitment should be given to remove all sanctions imposed on Iran.
• Iran’s funds and frozen assets deposited in America should be returned.
• Iran should ensure that it will not try to acquire nuclear weapons.

15 conditions of America

America has set 15 major conditions for the agreement with Iran, through which efforts are being made to establish permanent peace in the region.

• Ceasefire should be implemented immediately for 30 days.
• Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan and Ford should be destroyed.
• Iran will never develop nuclear weapons in the future.
• A permanent commitment should be given not to make nuclear weapons.
• The entire stockpile of enriched uranium should be handed over to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• Iran’s nuclear infrastructure should be fully monitored by the IAEA and uranium enrichment within the country should be banned.
• Iran’s support to regional proxy groups should be ended.
• Iran’s attacks on regional energy infrastructure should be stopped.
• The Strait of Hormuz should be reopened.
• US sanctions on Iran should be lifted and the UN’s ‘snapback’ mechanism should be abolished.
• America will provide cooperation for electricity production at Bushehr nuclear plant.
• Iran has been asked to stop uranium enrichment domestically.
• There has been a demand to limit the number of Iran’s missiles and their range.
• Assistance has been offered for power generation.
• A promise has also been made to abolish the UN’s ‘snapback mechanism’.

Kabul Hospital Attack Analysis: The horrific attack on Omid Hospital in Kabul at 9 pm on March 16, 2026 is not just a terrorist incident, but the beginning of a destructive process that has the power to change the map of the entire world including South Asia.

While on one hand media reports are claiming 400 deaths, on the other hand the planetary movements are writing such a ‘bloody script’ which will not let us breathe easy till May 11, 2026.

Kabul attack: A ‘global trigger’ that shattered hopes for peace

History is witness to the fact that big wars always start with a small spark. Veterans of international relations like Barry Buzan and Stephen Walt believe that when ‘non-state actors’ get involved with the border dispute, the conflict reaches the ‘Point of No Return’.

The mistrust that has arisen between Pakistan and Afghanistan regarding TTP (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan) is now at a point where the avenues of diplomacy seem to be closed. According to the UN report, the displacement of more than 1.15 lakh people is screaming that this humanitarian crisis is now standing on the threshold of a ‘Full-Scale War’.

Astronomical ‘Chaturgrahi Yoga’: ‘Countdown to destruction’ started from March 17

From the perspective of astrological science, the March 16 attack was part of ‘cosmic timing’. On March 17, 2026, the four most influential and fiery planets have gathered in the Shatabhisha Nakshatra of Aquarius:

• Mars (factor of war): Instigating the armies.
• Rahu (suddenness and smoke): Planning secret attacks and explosions.
• Mercury retrograde (confusion): Spreading ‘misinformation’ by thwarting talks between governments.
• Moon (public): It is creating fear and mental unrest among the common citizens.

Varahamihira’s warning: According to the ancient text Brihat Samhita, when the Moon gets a double attack from malefic planets like Mars and Saturn, then both the king (ruler) and the subjects have to suffer greatly. Mars being in Aquarius with Rahu till 2 April 2026 is the most deadly time for Aerial Warfare (drone and missile attacks).

‘Peak Risk Window’: What will happen between March 25 and April 2?

On both astrological and geopolitical grounds, the time from March 25 to April 2 is looking like a ‘black hole’. Due to Mercury retrograde, intelligence inputs may prove to be wrong. The response to a small strike could come in the form of a ‘nuclear threat’ or a major attack.

Kumbh and Shatabhisha are related to technology and healing. Therefore, hospitals, power grids, internet cables and telecom towers could be the next targets.

What will be the impact on India and Pakistan? (The Three-Layer Pressure)

This crisis will not be limited to Kabul only. This will affect the entire corridor. How to understand it like this-

Pakistan’s crisis: Pakistan is currently under ‘Three-Layer Pressure’. On one side there is clash with Taliban on the border, on the other side internal TTP attacks, and on the third side the crumbling economy. Saturn being in Pisces is a sign of a long and exhausting struggle for Pakistan from which it will be almost impossible to get out.

The coming times are bringing more challenges for Pakistan. There is a strong indication that the people of Pakistan are going to suffer, after May 2026, the problems of the people of Pakistan may increase. In June 2026, people can be seen expressing their anger on the streets against inflation and wrong policies of the government, this trend will continue for a long time.

India’s role: India is currently on ‘High Alert’ mode under the leadership of Narendra Modi. Although the planetary positions are indicating that India will not jump into war directly, but vigil on the border and ‘Multi-Front Vigilance’ will be mandatory. India’s diplomacy will become the pivot of balance for the world at this time.

Roadmap for the next 45 days

Understand from the table given below what changes are going to happen at the global level in the coming times:

time period	planetary positions	global impact	impact on india	situation of pakistan
17–24 March	initial stress	regional instability	security alert	heavy military pressure
25 March–2 April	Peak Risk Window	Air Strike/Drone War	high alert phase	situation like internal civil war
2 April–11 May	Pisces conjunction of Saturn-Mars	refugee crisis, trade deficit	diplomatic activism	threat of economic collapse

Is the world headed for another world war?

The theories of Hans Morgenthau, a realist thinker of international politics, suggest that when multiple fronts (Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Iran and Afghanistan-Pakistan) become active simultaneously, they amplify each other and global instability increases manifold. The Kabul attack is the latest example of that chain reaction, a trigger that brings pre-existing tensions to the surface. This is not a world war yet, but it can be seen as a rehearsal phase where the system is being tested again and again.

If we look at it from an astrological point of view, then the simultaneous influence of Mars (war), Rahu (suddenness), Moon (people) and retrograde Mercury (illusion) in Aquarius between March 17 and April 2, 2026, creates the same kind of amplification effect, where events do not remain isolated, but connect with each other and have a big impact. It is described in Brihat Samhita that when the influence of malefic planets increases on the Moon, unrest at the public level and tension at the state level spreads rapidly. In the modern context, this is the situation where an event in one area creates a reaction in another area.

This is why the next 2 to 4 weeks are being considered decisive. For small countries, it can become a fight for survival, while for big countries like the United States, China and Russia, it is a challenge to maintain their influence and balance. Both planets and geopolitics are pointing in the same direction. This is not a time of stability, but of rapidly changing equations.

Also read- Israel-Iran War: Why can March 20 become the most dangerous turning point of the war? Astrology is giving shocking signs

Disclaimer: The information provided here is based only on assumptions and information. It is important to mention here that ABPLive.com does not endorse or confirm any information. Before implementing any information or belief, consult the concerned expert.

Iran is currently going through the most serious economic crisis in its history. US sanctions, uncontrolled inflation and weak economy have made the life of common people very difficult.

The Iranian currency Rial has reached a record low against the US Dollar. The situation is such that to buy 1 dollar one has to pay about 14.2 lakh Rials. In the year 2025 itself, the value of Rial has fallen by more than 50 percent against the Dollar.

The inflation rate in the country is beyond 50 percent and food prices have increased by almost 70 percent.

Due to unemployment, water shortage and economic pressure, protests and unrest are being seen in many areas. At present, Iran’s trade is limited to a few countries, especially China.