Food is a fundamental necessity and ensuring its accessibility while maintaining nutritional standards is crucial for overall well-being. To address this, the government has implemented several unique schemes that not only provide essential rations at fair prices but also focus on the nutrition of newborns and mothers. These initiatives are designed to promote holistic health and ensure that every citizen has access to both food and proper nutrition. Status of India - Goal 2 of SDG Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Improvement in overall composite score of Goal 2 moving from Aspirant category in SDG India Index 3 (2020-21) to Performer category in the SDG India Index 4 (2023- 24) 99.01% of beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 Improvement in productivity of rice and wheat - kg/ ha - Wheat - 3,540; Rice - 2,859 in 2024-25 Increase in Gross Value Added (GVA) (constant prices) in agriculture per worker from ₹ 0.71 lakhs in 2018-19 to ₹ 0.94 lakhs in 2024-25 Percentage of children aged under 5 years who are underweight (2019-21) - 32.10 Percentage of children under age 5 years who are stunted (2019-21) - 35.50 Prevalence of malnutrition among children under 5 years of age, by type (wasting and overweight) (2019-21) % - Wasting (19.3); Overweight (3.4) Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years, by pregnancy status (percentage) 2019-21- Pregnant (52.2); Non Pregnant (57.2); Total (57.00) Percentage of Children age 6-59 months who are anaemic (<11.0g/dl) 2019-21 - 67.10 Source : Sustainable Development Goals – National Indicator Framework Progress Report Global Hunger Index In the 2024 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 105th out of the 127 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2024 GHI scores. With a score of 27.3 in the 2024 Global Hunger Index, India has a level of hunger that is serious. India's GHI Score is based on the values of four component indicators: 13.7% of the population is undernourished 35.5% of children under five are stunted 18.7% of children under five are wasted 2.9% of children die before their fifth birthday Source : Global Hunger Index - India Key policies and schemes of the government Public Distribution System (PDS) : The Public Distribution System (PDS) evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of foodgrains at affordable prices. Over the years, PDS has become an important part of Government’s policy for management of food economy in the country. National Food Security Act (NFSA): This act ensures subsidized food grains for up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, benefiting approximately 81 crore individuals, including 16 crore women. PM POSHAN (POshan SHAkti Nirman) Scheme : Scheme duration - 2021-22 to 2025-26. The PM POSHAN (POSHAN Shakti Nirman) Scheme was earlier known as the National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools. The initiative was first launched on 15th August 1995 under the name National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE). Its goal has been to improve school enrollment, attendance and retention by offering nutritional support to primary school children. Over the years, the scheme expanded to cover upper primary classes in 2008-09 and was renamed as Mid-Day Meal Scheme, evolving in terms of coverage, food quantity and financial assistance. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) : In the wake of economic disruptions caused by the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government had announced the distribution of additional free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) to about 81.35 Crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries at the scale of 5 Kg per person per month under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), over and above the regular monthly NFSA foodgrains. The scheme has been extended for a period of five years with effect from 1st January 2024. Source: PIB