Archive · 15 Dec 2025
India's Food System Faces Nutrition Crisis
India's food system is facing a big problem.
Many people, especially children, are not getting the right nutrients.
This is because the food system is not balanced.
People are eating more processed foods like chips and burgers instead of healthy foods like millets and vegetables.
The government has tried to help with programs like the Public Distribution System, but these programs focus too much on rice and wheat.
This has made the problem worse.
The government and consumers need to work together to make sure everyone has access to healthy food.
This means changing what foods are available and making sure people know how to choose healthy options.
India's food system has a hidden cost of $1.34 trillion due to dietary habits and nutrient intake.
In 2024, India recorded the highest global prevalence of wasting among children under five, with over 21 million affected.
Around 37 million children in India are stunted, and the number of overweight children and obese adults has doubled in the last decade.
More than 200 million women of reproductive age in India are anaemic, highlighting the burden of poor nutrition.
The Public Distribution System (PDS) has focused excessively on rice and wheat, reducing dietary diversity and pushing nutritious foods to the margins.
- Who
- Indian households, policymakers, and consumers
- What
- A nutrition crisis due to an imbalance in the food system
- When
- 2024 and ongoing
- Where
- India
- Why
- Due to structural imbalances, social inequities, and inadequate policy focus on nutrition security
- Hidden Cost of Indian Food System
- $1.34 trillion
- Children Under Five Affected by Wasting
- 21 million
- Stunted Children in India
- 37 million
- Anaemic Women of Reproductive Age
- 200 million
- Increase in Overweight Children and Obese Adults
- Doubled in the last decade
- Public Distribution System (PDS) Focus
- Excessive dependence on rice and wheat
- Ultra-Processed Foods
- Cheaper and more accessible than nutritious alternatives
- Consumer Spending on Food
- Doubled in the past four years