Hunger and poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement.
Approach · directive: “evaluate”
What it asks · Assess progress on poverty reduction and food and nutrition security through major policies since Independence, note persisting gaps and suggest improvements.
It asks 2 things — answer each
- Evaluate how far successive governments have reduced poverty and hunger: progress and persisting gaps
- Suggest measures for improvement
Open with · Article 47 makes raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living a primary duty of the State; India has escaped famine, yet hunger and poverty remain the first test of governance.
Cover
- Poverty: on the Tendulkar line the ratio fell from 37.2% in 2004-05 to 21.9% in 2011-12 (Planning Commission).
- Food security: the National Food Security Act, 2013 gives subsidised grain to up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban residents.
- Income support: MGNREGA guarantees rural wage work; Jan Dhan accounts and direct benefit transfer aim to cut leakages.
- Nutrition: stunting fell from 48% (NFHS-3) to 38.4% (NFHS-4, 2015-16), underweight from 42.5% to 35.7%.
- Gaps: Global Hunger Index 2017 ranked India 100th of 119 (score 31.4, 'serious'; GHI 2025: 102nd of 123, 25.8); exclusion errors, leakage, weak frontline accountability.
- Measures: diversify PDS and ICDS towards nutrition and the first 1,000 days; inclusive targeting, grievance redressal and social audits.
- Incomes: farm productivity, non-farm jobs, timely MGNREGA wages, and women's self-help groups under DAY-NRLM.
Close with · India's 2017 Voluntary National Review centred on eradicating poverty; meeting SDG target 2.1, ending hunger by 2030, now depends on delivery and nutrition more than on new schemes.
Add value (verified)
- NFHS-4 (2015-16): 38.4 per cent of children under five were stunted, down from 48 per cent in NFHS-3 — progress, but still a very high burden.Prevalence of underweight and stunting among children has come down as per NFHS-4 — PIB, 21 July 2017 ↗“as per NFHS-4 survey based on 2015-16 data the prevalence of underweight and stunting has come down to 35.7% & 38.4% from 42.5% & 48% NFSH-3”
- Article 47 makes raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living, and improving public health, among the State's primary duties.The Constitution of India (as on 1 May 2024) - Legislative Department ↗“The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties”
- Global Hunger Index 2017: India's score of 31.4 is at the high end of the 'serious' category (100th of 119 countries ranked).Global Hunger Index 2017 report - Welthungerhilfe, IFPRI and Concern Worldwide (globalhungerindex.org) ↗“At 31.4, India’s 2017 GHI score is at the high end of the serious category.”
- Since then: the Global Hunger Index 2025 gives India a score of 25.8, still 'serious', and ranks it 102nd of 123 countries.Global Hunger Index - India country page (GHI 2025) ↗“India is ranked 102nd out of 123 countries included in the ranking in the 2025 GHI report.”
- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission aims to bring one woman from each of a large number of poor rural households into self-help groups.India Voluntary National Review Report on Implementation of SDGs, HLPF 2017 - NITI Aayog ↗“the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, the National Livelihoods Mission, is devoted to creating skilled employment for the poor. The Mission aims to bring one female member each from a large number of poor households in rural area”
- India presented its Voluntary National Review at the 2017 High-Level Political Forum, whose focus was eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity.India Voluntary National Review Report on Implementation of SDGs, HLPF 2017 - NITI Aayog ↗“India appreciates the focus on ‘Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world’”
- SDG target 2.1: by 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, especially the poor and vulnerable, to safe and nutritious food.Goal 2: Zero hunger - UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (sdgs.un.org) ↗“Target 2.1 By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritio”
Question: UPSC's CS (Main) 2017, GS Paper II — paper ↗. Approach: Minimalist IAS, checked 3 Oct 2026 (how we verify) — UPSC publishes no model answers. ·
Model answer· 226words · Minimalist IAS
Article 47 makes 'the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living' a primary duty of the State. India has escaped famine, yet hunger and poverty remain the first test of good governance.
How far governments have progressed
- Poverty reduction: growth and social programmes sharply cut the poverty ratio (Tendulkar line).
- Legal food security: the National Food Security Act, 2013 gives subsidised grain to up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban residents.
- Income support: MGNREGA guarantees rural wage work; Jan Dhan and direct benefit transfer aim to cut leakages.
| Indicator | Earlier | Later |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty ratio | 37.2% (2004-05) | 21.9% (2011-12) |
| Child stunting | 48% (NFHS-3) | 38.4% (NFHS-4) |
| Child underweight | 42.5% (NFHS-3) | 35.7% (NFHS-4) |
The gaps that persist
- Hidden hunger: the Global Hunger Index 2017 ranked India 100th of 119 countries, its score of 31.4 'serious' (GHI 2025: 25.8, still 'serious').
- Delivery deficits: exclusion errors, leakage and weak frontline accountability.
Measures for improvement
- From calories to nutrition: diversify PDS and ICDS baskets; focus on the first 1,000 days and women's anaemia.
- Fix delivery: inclusive Aadhaar-seeded targeting, grievance redressal and social audits.
- Raise incomes: farm productivity, timely MGNREGA wages and women's self-help groups under DAY-NRLM.
India's 2017 Voluntary National Review put eradicating poverty at its centre; meeting SDG target 2.1, to 'end hunger' by 2030, now depends on delivery and nutrition more than on new schemes.
Prepared by Minimalist IAS to the answer standard of Shivam Singh (mentor, 7 years) · facts checked against official sources (how we verify) · updated 3 Oct 2026. UPSC publishes no model answers: compare your structure and coverage with this, then write your own.
