Food Security in India: A Comprehensive Examination of Progress, Challenges, and Pathways to Sustainable Development
Authors: - Gagandeep Kaur 
Published: January 2025

Food Security refers to the state in which every individual, without exception, possesses both the physical and economic means to obtain an adequate amount of nutritious food that caters to their dietary requirements, enabling them to lead active and healthy lives. India has been ranked 105th out of 124 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2024. Despite remarkable progress in food production and the transition from being a food importer in the 1960s to becoming a major food exporter now, India has been placed under the “serious” category in terms of hunger. Securing food security in India is a formidable challenge, considering the vast population and prevalent issues of poverty and malnutrition.
This paper draws upon a range of secondary sources, including the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and other government reports, in conjunction with existing literature, to provide a comprehensive overview of the nutritional landscape in India. The research methodology involved an extensive review of existing literature related to food security in India, Sustainable Development Goal 2, and related topics. This foundational understanding was complemented by an examination of statistical data about food production, distribution, and nutrition indicators, with a special emphasis on temporal trends. Additionally, an in-depth analysis of government policies, reports, and documents related to food security and nutrition programs was conducted to assess their impact and effectiveness.
This descriptive paper discusses the multifaceted aspects of food security in India, encompassing availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. The results highlight that despite a manifold increase in food production in the last five decades, the net per capita food availability has remained stagnant. According to the latest NFHS-5 (2019-21) report, there have been notable improvements in nutrition indicators for children under 5 years when compared to NFHS-4 (2015-16). Stunting and wasting have reduced from 38.4% and 21.0% to 35.5% and 19.3% respectively, and underweight prevalence dropped from 35.8% to 32.1%. However, it is important to note that the absolute number of malnourished children remains significant. Out of the 22 states and Union Territories (having available data), 18 exhibit either stagnancy or a deterioration in levels of stunting (height-for-age) among children under the age of five. Persistent challenges, including food distribution inefficiencies, price fluctuations, and regional disparities, continue to impede India's full realization of food security. Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war have further complicated these challenges.
The paper also explores the potential strategies for India to further enhance its food security initiatives, focusing on sustainable agriculture, technology integration, and policy reforms. It underscores the significance of India's continued commitment to addressing food security to ensure its population's healthy and prosperous future.