41 percent, according to official data released Friday, dealing a blow to the government and fanning expectations of monetary tightening.
Annual inflation quickened to 7.
41 percent for the week ended March 29, from seven percent the previous week, according to the Wholesale Price Index, India's most-tracked cost-of-living monitor.
The figure was above market forecasts of 7.03 percent and comes amid growing worldwide concern about inflationary pressure from soaring commodity prices, including for food and fuel.
Inflation has climbed steeply from a trough of 3.1 percent in October and is way above the central bank's declared tolerance level of five percent.
The country faces the daunting task of trying to keep food and other goods affordable for its population of more than 1.1 billion people, many of whom live in grinding poverty.
The inflation numbers were alarming reading for the Congress-led government, which owes its upset 2004 election win to support from India's teeming poor, who have been hardest hit by inflation.
Congress faces nearly a dozen state polls this year and general elections by May 2009.