SR Darapuri, National President, All India Peoples Front
(Note: Today, on his birthday, Modiji is launching the “Healthy Women, Strong Family” campaign.)
Overview
(Asian independent) As of September 2025, India’s food security has shown moderate improvements, with undernourishment rates declining due to government initiatives like the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Public Distribution System (PDS). However, challenges persist, including high malnutrition rates, affordability issues for healthy diets, and regional disparities. The country faces a “triple burden” of malnutrition: undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and rising overweight/obesity, impacting overall health outcomes such as child mortality, anaemia-related complications, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes. Progress toward global targets is mixed, with some advancements in stunting and breastfeeding but stagnation in wasting and anaemia.
Food Security
India ranks 105th out of 127 countries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024, with a score of 27.3 (improved from 29.3 in 2016), classifying it as “serious.” Undernourishment affects about 12-13.4% of the population (approximately 19.46 crore people), down from 14.3% in 2020-22, resulting in 30 million fewer people facing hunger. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report notes global progress but highlights elevated food price inflation exacerbating insecurity in countries like India. Government programs like NFSA cover 75% of rural and 50% of urban populations with subsidized grains, reaching over 80 crore people via PDS, though leakages (22% in 2022) and import dependency for pulses and oils remain issues. Rural areas face higher insecurity due to infrastructure gaps, while urban migration complicates access.
Key Food Security Metrics Value Source
Undernourishment rate 12-13.4% (2022-24) SOFI 2025, KPMG Report
GHI Score/Rank 27.3 / 105th (2024) GHI 2024
Population unable to afford
nutrient-adequate diet 39% SOFI/KPMG
Availability of Healthy Food
The cost of a healthy diet in India has risen 47% since 2017 to $4.07 per day in 2024, making it unaffordable for 74% of the population (about 40.4% explicitly cited as unable to afford it). This surge links to inflation, with a 10% food price increase associated with 2.7-4.3% higher acute malnutrition rates. Despite this, consumer trends show growing demand for healthy options: 49% plan to buy more high-fiber foods, and online orders for nutritional products rose 60% in 2025. The healthy food market is projected to reach $120.35 billion by 2035, driven by shifts to organic, unprocessed, plant-based, and functional foods. Initiatives like UNICEF’s “Let’s Fix Our Food” advocate for better access to healthy environments, while experts call for diversifying production beyond staples. Rural-urban divides persist, with better availability in urban areas but affordability barriers everywhere.
Nutrition
India bears one-third of the global undernutrition burden, with declining but persistent malnutrition rates and regional disparities. Among children under five: stunting affects 34.7-35.5% (37.4 million), wasting 17.3-18.7% (over 21 million), and undernourishment 13.7%. Anaemia impacts 53-53.7% of women aged 15-49 (203 million) and 67.1% of children aged 6-59 months. Progress toward WHO 2025 targets is on course for stunting and exclusive breastfeeding (58%), but no progress on wasting or anaemia. Tribal and adolescent girls face higher risks, with 40% of under-fives stunted and 40% of girls anaemic. Programs like POSHAN Abhiyan and ICDS provide supplements, benefiting millions, but coverage gaps remain (e.g., 26% for child iron supplements).
Key Nutrition Metrics (Children Under 5) Prevalence Source
Stunting 34.7-35.5% GNR, NFHS-5, SOFI
Wasting 17.3-18.7% GNR, SOFI
Overweight 1.6% (on course) GNR
Health Outcomes Related to Nutrition
Poor nutrition contributes to nearly half of under-five deaths in India, with undernutrition linked to higher mortality (2.9% child mortality rate). Anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies exacerbate issues like maternal health risks and cognitive impairments. Rising overweight/obesity (6.2% women, 3.5% men) and diabetes (9.0% women, 10.2% men) signal a shift toward NCDs, though rates are below regional averages; India is off course on related targets. Women’s empowerment positively correlates with better nutritional outcomes, while first-1,000-days interventions could reduce long-term health burdens. Government efforts, including school meals for 12.16 crore children and salt iodization (92% household coverage), aim to improve outcomes, but low health worker density (e.g., 0.93 doctors per 1,000) hinders delivery. Overall, while stunting reductions align with global goals, persistent gaps risk missing 2025 targets for wasting and anaemia.
The above data shows that although food security measures provide food grains, oil, and pulses to over 800 million people, the malnutrition rate remains at 12-13.4% (2022-24), and 39% cannot afford a nutritious diet. Consequently, stunting affects 34.7-35.5% (37.4 million), wasting 17.3-18.7% (over 21 million), and undernutrition 13.7% of children under five. Anaemia affects 53-53.7% of women aged 15-49 (203 million) and 67.1% of children aged 6-59 months. 45 percent of girls under five suffer from stunting, and 40% of girls suffer from anaemia. The under-five mortality rate due to malnutrition is quite high at 2.69%. Anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies exacerbate problems like maternal health risks and cognitive impairment. The country has only 0.93 doctors per 1,000 people, which is extremely low. Therefore, it remains to be seen how much the “Healthy Women, Strong Families” campaign being launched by Modi on his birthday will change the situation, given the current state of food security, availability of healthy food, nutrition, and health after 11 years of Modi’s rule.
