Global Undernourishment Trends 2025 Introduction 

• The United Nations’ The State of Food Security & Nutrition in the World 2025 reveals that 8.2% of the global population, or approximately 673 million people, were undernourished in 2024.
•  This marks a slight improvement from 688 million in 2023, yet it remains above pre-pandemic levels, which stood at 7.3% in 2018. 
• While progress has been made, the report highlights that global food security is still fragile and vulnerable to crises like climate shocks, conflicts, and economic instability.

India’s Role in Reducing Undernourishment

• India has emerged as a key contributor to global food security progress. According to revised estimates from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) household consumption survey, the prevalence of undernourishment in India declined from 14.3% in 2020-22 to 12% in 2022-24. 
• This reduction reflects the impact of targeted nutrition programs, social welfare initiatives, and food distribution schemes in addressing undernourishment, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.

Factors Behind India’s Decline in Hunger

• Public Distribution System (PDS) Reforms: India’s PDS has undergone major transformation, becoming more efficient and inclusive through digitalisation, Aadhar-enabled targeting, real-time inventory tracking, and biometric authentication. Initiatives like “One Nation, One Ration Card” have enhanced portability and entitlements, minimizing leakages and exclusion errors. These reforms have ensured that vulnerable populations have timely access to subsidized food, strengthening household food security.

• Expansion of Food Security Programs: National-level programs such as the National Food Security Act (NFSA), PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, Poshan Abhiyan, and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) have been pivotal in improving food access and nutrition, especially for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Programs like PM-POSHAN and ICDS now emphasize dietary diversity and nutrition-sensitive interventions, laying the groundwork for long-term improvements in child development and public health.

• Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction: Sustained economic growth has contributed to falling poverty rates, enabling many households to afford adequate food. While challenges remain, rising incomes and employment opportunities have enhanced overall food accessibility and reduced vulnerability to undernourishment.

• Targeted Nutritional and Health Schemes: Schemes such as PM-POSHAN (mid-day meals) and maternal/child health initiatives at the local level have ensured calorie sufficiency and improved nutritional outcomes, particularly in rural and underserved areas. These interventions have strengthened child nutrition, school attendance, and overall public health indicators.

• Empowerment of Women and Local Communities: Women-led enterprises, local cooperatives, and community participation have been central to improving household food security. By addressing gender-based disparities and enhancing women’s role in food production and distribution, communities have achieved better nutrition outcomes and more resilient food systems.

• Technological Innovations in Agriculture: Digital platforms like AgriStack and e-NAM have transformed agricultural planning and market access. These innovations provide real-time data, transparency, and efficient supply chain management for small farmers, ensuring better rural food availability and reduced post-harvest losses.

Remaining Challenges in India’s Fight Against Hunger

• High Food Prices and Limited Access to Nutritious Foods: A healthy and balanced diet remains unaffordable for over 60% of India’s population due to the high cost of nutrient-rich foods. Inadequate cold chains, poor storage facilities, and inefficient market linkages further restrict access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and proteins, making nutritious diets inaccessible for many.

• Malnutrition and Micronutrient Deficiencies: India faces a double burden of malnutrition: persistent undernutrition—manifested as stunting, wasting, and underweight children—coexists with a rising prevalence of overweight and obesity. Widespread micronutrient deficiencies, often called “hidden hunger”, affect essential nutrients like iron, iodine, and vitamin A, impacting cognitive development, immunity, and physical growth.

• Weak Implementation of Nutrition Programs: Although India has several nutrition-focused schemes such as mid-day meals, ICDS, and Poshan Abhiyan, implementation gaps remain in states with high poverty ratios. Limited availability of fortified foods and insufficient nutrition education reduce the effectiveness of these programs, particularly in rural and marginalized communities.

• Supply Chain and Infrastructure Bottlenecks: Significant post-harvest losses due to poor logistics, storage, and transport infrastructure reduce the availability of food and diminish nutritional value. Up to 13% of harvested crops are lost or degraded before reaching consumers, often leaving nutrient-poor foods for consumption, especially in underserved regions.

Way Forward 

• Transform the Agri-Food System: Increasing the production and affordability of nutrient-rich foods—including pulses, fruits, vegetables, and animal-source products—is vital. This requires promoting diversified farming, modern agricultural practices, and sustainable intensification to meet both caloric and nutritional needs.

• Expand and Diversify the Public Distribution System (PDS) : The PDS should evolve beyond cereals to include pulses, millets, and fortified foods. Integrating technology-driven solutions such as biometric authentication, GPS tracking, and real-time monitoring can minimize leakages, improve targeting, and enhance efficiency in food delivery.

• Promote Nutrition-Centric and Inclusive Programs: Programs like Poshan Abhiyan, PM POSHAN (mid-day meals), and ICDS must be scaled up and rigorously implemented, focusing on maternal and child health. Mass campaigns can encourage the production and consumption of locally adapted nutrient-rich foods, including millets, pulses, indigenous vegetables, and animal products.

• Leverage Technological Interventions: Digital platforms like AgriStack, e-NAM, and geospatial mapping tools can improve agricultural planning, market linkages, and targeted interventions. Investing in climate-resilient agriculture—such as drought-tolerant crops, water-efficient irrigation systems, and sustainable farming practices—can help buffer food supply against climate shocks.

• Strengthen Supply Chains and Reduce Food Wastage: Upgrading storage, transport, and cold-chain infrastructure is crucial to minimize post-harvest losses and ensure that nutrient-dense foods reach vulnerable communities. Efficient supply chains are critical for both rural and urban food security.

• Empower Local Communities and Women: Supporting women-led food enterprises, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), and local cooperatives—especially those cultivating climate-resilient crops—can enhance both nutrition outcomes and livelihoods. Community empowerment strengthens resilience and fosters local solutions.

• Promote Urban Food Security Initiatives: Targeted programs for the urban poor—such as community kitchens, food banks, and urban agriculture initiatives—can address nutritional gaps in cities. These measures ensure equitable access to healthy foods in rapidly urbanizing regions.