New Delhi, July 20 -- Ask any average consumer the exact cost of a litre of milk or a litre of petrol, and they will likely quote the current price down to the last paise. These daily essentials are so closely tracked that any price hike instantly triggers public outrage and front-page news. Yet, right under the noses of Indian consumers, a multi-million-rupee grocery category has quietly operated without price transparency for decades: spices.

While items like milk are standard across the board, products like Red Chilli Powder, Hing, and other spices have historically existed irregularly. Customers rarely know the fair market value of these essential commodities; therefore, market forces have long taken advantage of this massive informa...