Improved calorie intake among India's poorest (2022-24)
India's poorest households are finally eating a bit more—daily calorie intake rose in both rural and urban areas between 2022-23 and 2023-24.
It's a small but hopeful step toward closing the nutrition gap with wealthier groups.
Richest still eat nearly twice as much
Rural poor went from 1,607 to 1,688 Kcal per day; urban poor increased from 1,623 to 1,688 Kcal.
But the richest still eat nearly twice as much—about 3,000 Kcal daily, with exact figures of 2,941 Kcal in rural areas and 3,092 Kcal in urban areas.
Protein intake for the poorest stayed flat (mostly from cereals), while fat consumption nudged up in villages and dipped in cities.
Things are improving, but long way to go
Government food schemes like PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana have helped boost these numbers.
Around 25 crore people have moved out of poverty since 2014, but India's zero hunger score is stuck at just 52/100.
So while things are improving, there's still a long way to go before everyone gets enough to eat.