Nutritional Intake in India: Key Findings

The National Statistics Office has released the Nutritional Intake in India report, analyzing data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys (HCES) for 2022-23 and 2023-24. The report provides insights into India's dietary patterns and highlights both progress and ongoing challenges.

Calorie Intake

• Stability is observed in average daily per capita calorie intake.
• Rural India: 2,233 kcal in 2022-23 and a slight decrease to 2,212 kcal in 2023-24.
• Urban India: 2,250 kcal and 2,240 kcal for the respective years.
• Improvement in calorie intake among the lowest-income groups noted, reducing nutritional inequality.

Expenditure and Diet Quality

• Higher monthly per capita consumption expenditure leads to better calorie access.
• Decrease in spending on cereals and percentage of calories derived from cereals observed.
• With urbanization and rising disposable incomes, these trends are expected to continue.

Protein and Dietary Patterns

• Cereals dominate protein intake: 46-47% in rural areas, 39% in urban.
• Shift noted with an increase in protein from eggs, fish, meat, and milk.
• Dietary diversification is increasing, but inter-state disparities remain significant.

Fat Intake

• Fat intake rose by more than 15 gm between 2009-10 and 2023-24.
• Urban areas show higher fat consumption compared to rural areas.
• Rising obesity rates linked to higher body fat content.

Opportunities and Recommendations

• Promotion of sustainable and affordable protein alternatives recommended.
• Investment needed in agricultural diversification and supply-chain improvement.
• Emphasis on nutritional education to ensure adequate micronutrient and macronutrient intake.