India’s Persistent Challenge of Hunger and Malnutrition

India continues to face a serious hunger crisis despite its democratic governance and status as a leading food producer. The 2025 Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranks India 102nd out of 123 countries with a serious score of 25.8. Millions suffer from both overt and hidden hunger, with widespread malnutrition affecting children, adolescents and women. The paradox of abundant food stocks alongside persistent hunger marks deep socio-economic and structural issues.

Democracy and Hunger Prevention

India’s democracy has prevented famines since independence. Public outcry compels governments to act during acute food crises. However, chronic undernutrition remains neglected as it does not provoke immediate political pressure. This creates a paradox where hunger persists silently despite democratic accountability.

Types of Hunger – Overt and Hidden

Overt hunger is visible and involves insufficient calorie intake causing physical weakness. Hidden hunger refers to micronutrient deficiencies and inadequate protein consumption. Hidden hunger is endemic in India and damages health even when calorie intake appears sufficient. Both forms severely affect growth and development.

Global Hunger Index and India’s Ranking

The GHI measures hunger using undernourishment, child stunting, wasting and mortality. India’s score places it in the serious hunger category. Despite improvements in food security, stunting affects over 35% of children and wasting nearly 19%. Undernourishment impacts about 14% of the population. The index shows India’s hunger problem remains critical.

Malnutrition Across Life Stages

Malnutrition affects individuals throughout their lives. Malnourished children grow into malnourished adults with reduced cognitive and physical capacities. Nearly 24% of adolescents are underweight and 80% suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. Women are disproportionately affected due to social norms that prioritise feeding men and boys.

Intergenerational Cycle of Undernutrition

Undernourished women give birth to stunted babies who rarely catch up in growth. This perpetuates a cycle of malnutrition across generations. It undermines India’s demographic dividend by limiting the future workforce’s productivity and health.

Food Production Vs. Food Distribution

India ranks second globally in food production due to the Green Revolution and agricultural advances. Yet distribution remains uneven. Food rots in storage while millions go hungry. Poverty and poor access to nutritious food are the immediate causes of hunger, not food scarcity itself.

Socio-Economic Factors and Hunger

Poverty restricts access to adequate food. Many Indians earn less than Rs. 100 per day, limiting their ability to buy nutritious meals. Inflation and job insecurity worsen food insecurity. Hunger is linked to a complex web of social, political and economic factors rather than just lack of food.

Hidden Hunger and Economic Impact

Hidden hunger reduces productivity and economic growth. Micronutrient deficiencies lead to poor health and learning outcomes. This silent epidemic traps millions in poverty and malnutrition, creating a vicious cycle that hampers national development.

Obesity and Inequality

At the other end of the spectrum is obesity caused by excessive calorie intake. It reflects growing inequality where some have surplus food while others starve. This dual burden of malnutrition poses new public health challenges.

Policy and Sustainable Development Goals

India must improve implementation of existing nutrition and food security programmes to meet Sustainable Development Goal 2 (no hunger). Ensuring access to healthy food and addressing socio-economic barriers are critical. Food security is a moral and social justice issue requiring urgent attention.

Questions for UPSC:

1. Taking example of India, discuss the role of democracy in preventing famines and addressing chronic hunger.
2. Examine the causes and consequences of hidden hunger and its impact on human development.
3. Analyse the relationship between food production, distribution systems and poverty in developing countries.
4. Critically discuss the dual burden of malnutrition—undernutrition and obesity—and its implications for public health policy.

Answer Hints:

1. Taking example of India, discuss the role of democracy in preventing famines and addressing chronic hunger.

1. Democracy compels governments to respond to public outcry, preventing acute famines (e.g., India has had no major famine since 1947).
2. Democratic accountability ensures food crises provoke political action, especially visible hunger emergencies.
3. Chronic hunger and undernutrition receive less attention as they do not generate immediate political pressure or mass protests.
4. India’s democratic governance has improved food security but struggles with persistent malnutrition and hidden hunger.
5. Public policies and welfare schemes exist but implementation gaps and socio-economic inequalities limit effectiveness.
6. Democracy provides a framework for rights-based approaches but requires stronger political will to address silent hunger.

2. Examine the causes and consequences of hidden hunger and its impact on human development.

1. Hidden hunger arises from micronutrient deficiencies despite adequate calorie intake (lack of vitamins, minerals, protein).
2. It is endemic in India, affecting 80% of adolescents and causing stunting, wasting, and poor cognitive development.
3. Social factors like poverty, gender bias, and inadequate diet diversity exacerbate hidden hunger.
4. Consequences include impaired physical growth, reduced cognitive abilities, lower productivity, and increased morbidity.
5. Intergenerational transmission – malnourished mothers give birth to stunted children, perpetuating the cycle of malnutrition.
6. Hidden hunger undermines economic growth by limiting human capital and increasing healthcare costs.

3. Analyse the relationship between food production, distribution systems and poverty in developing countries.

1. High food production (e.g., India ranks 2nd globally) does not guarantee food security due to poor distribution.
2. Food wastage and inadequate storage cause losses while millions remain hungry, showing systemic inefficiencies.
3. Poverty restricts access to food; low income limits purchasing power despite food availability.
4. Unequal distribution and socio-economic disparities cause food insecurity even in food-surplus regions.
5. Rising inflation and job insecurity worsen food access for the poor, deepening hunger and malnutrition.
6. Addressing hunger requires improving supply chains, reducing wastage, and enhancing income and social safety nets.

4. Critically discuss the dual burden of malnutrition—undernutrition and obesity—and its implications for public health policy.

1. Undernutrition involves calorie and micronutrient deficiency causing stunting, wasting, and hidden hunger.
2. Obesity results from excessive calorie intake, often linked to sedentary lifestyles and poor diet quality.
3. Both coexist in developing countries like India, reflecting socio-economic inequalities and nutrition transition.
4. Dual burden complicates public health, requiring policies addressing both under- and overnutrition simultaneously.
5. Health systems must focus on prevention, education, and access to balanced diets for all socioeconomic groups.
6. Failure to address dual burden risks increased chronic diseases, healthcare costs, and loss of productivity.