The Crossbill Team
A newly released government survey has revealed a grim picture of nutritional intake across India, highlighting a widespread shortfall in daily caloric consumption among both rural and urban populations.
According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average daily intake stood at 2,212 kilocalories (Kcal) for rural residents and 2,240 Kcal for urban dwellers in 2023-24—both below the minimum norm of 2,325 Kcal set by government experts in 2017-18.
The findings are part of the NSO’s latest “Nutritional Intake in India” report under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), covering data from 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The extensive survey covered 2.62 lakh individuals, with 1.55 lakh from rural areas and 1.07 lakh from urban regions.
The 2,325 Kcal norm, based on the needs of a sedentary 18-29-year-old male, replaced the earlier benchmark of 2,700 Kcal. While the reduction was introduced in 2017-18, the rationale remains unclear, raising concerns over whether the bar for adequate nutrition has been deliberately lowered.
One of the report's most concerning aspects is the sharp disparity in intake based on income levels. The poorest 5% of the population consume just 1,688 Kcal per day in rural areas and 1,696 Kcal in urban areas—well below even the revised minimum.
In contrast, the richest 5% consume 2,941 Kcal (rural) and 3,092 Kcal (urban). The report suggests that roughly 60-70% of India’s population consumes less than the minimum required energy.
The inequality extends to protein intake as well. The poorest 5% in rural areas consume only 44 grams of protein daily compared to 86 grams among the richest 5%. In urban areas, the numbers are 46 grams for the poorest and 86 grams for the wealthiest.
The source of protein also varies significantly by income. Among the rural poor, 56% of protein comes from cereals, with just 6% from dairy and 9% from animal-based sources like eggs, fish and meat.
The rural rich, by contrast, obtain 34% from cereals, 15% from dairy, and 17% from meat and related sources. Cereals, while filling, are not high-quality sources of protein compared to dairy or animal products.
Interestingly, the intake of pulses remains relatively stable across income groups, contributing about 9% of total protein for both the poorest and richest. Urban patterns are similar, although the urban rich receive just 24% of protein from cereals and over 39% from other sources, including supplements and fruits.
Fat consumption also shows steep inequality. The rural poor consume about 36 grams of fat per day, while the rural rich consume 96 grams. In urban areas, the numbers are 42 grams for the poor and over 102 grams for the wealthiest.
Across states, energy intake also varies widely. Among 18 major states, only Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Telangana exceed the 2,325 Kcal norm in rural areas. In urban areas, only Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Telangana meet or surpass the threshold.
States such as Assam, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh fall significantly short, with some showing a decline in average caloric intake since 2009-10.
The report’s findings contradict government claims that food security schemes—such as the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana and PM Poshan—have successfully addressed malnutrition. Instead, the data reveals a nutritional crisis driven by low wages, persistent unemployment, and rising inequality, underscoring the urgent need for structural reforms and targeted nutrition policies.
According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), the average daily intake stood at 2,212 kilocalories (Kcal) for rural residents and 2,240 Kcal for urban dwellers in 2023-24—both below the minimum norm of 2,325 Kcal set by government experts in 2017-18.
The findings are part of the NSO’s latest “Nutritional Intake in India” report under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), covering data from 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The extensive survey covered 2.62 lakh individuals, with 1.55 lakh from rural areas and 1.07 lakh from urban regions.
The 2,325 Kcal norm, based on the needs of a sedentary 18-29-year-old male, replaced the earlier benchmark of 2,700 Kcal. While the reduction was introduced in 2017-18, the rationale remains unclear, raising concerns over whether the bar for adequate nutrition has been deliberately lowered.
One of the report's most concerning aspects is the sharp disparity in intake based on income levels. The poorest 5% of the population consume just 1,688 Kcal per day in rural areas and 1,696 Kcal in urban areas—well below even the revised minimum.
In contrast, the richest 5% consume 2,941 Kcal (rural) and 3,092 Kcal (urban). The report suggests that roughly 60-70% of India’s population consumes less than the minimum required energy.
The inequality extends to protein intake as well. The poorest 5% in rural areas consume only 44 grams of protein daily compared to 86 grams among the richest 5%. In urban areas, the numbers are 46 grams for the poorest and 86 grams for the wealthiest.
The source of protein also varies significantly by income. Among the rural poor, 56% of protein comes from cereals, with just 6% from dairy and 9% from animal-based sources like eggs, fish and meat.
The rural rich, by contrast, obtain 34% from cereals, 15% from dairy, and 17% from meat and related sources. Cereals, while filling, are not high-quality sources of protein compared to dairy or animal products.
Interestingly, the intake of pulses remains relatively stable across income groups, contributing about 9% of total protein for both the poorest and richest. Urban patterns are similar, although the urban rich receive just 24% of protein from cereals and over 39% from other sources, including supplements and fruits.
Fat consumption also shows steep inequality. The rural poor consume about 36 grams of fat per day, while the rural rich consume 96 grams. In urban areas, the numbers are 42 grams for the poor and over 102 grams for the wealthiest.
Across states, energy intake also varies widely. Among 18 major states, only Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Telangana exceed the 2,325 Kcal norm in rural areas. In urban areas, only Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Telangana meet or surpass the threshold.
States such as Assam, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh fall significantly short, with some showing a decline in average caloric intake since 2009-10.
The report’s findings contradict government claims that food security schemes—such as the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana and PM Poshan—have successfully addressed malnutrition. Instead, the data reveals a nutritional crisis driven by low wages, persistent unemployment, and rising inequality, underscoring the urgent need for structural reforms and targeted nutrition policies.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment