By Santosh Kumar Mohapatra
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2026, released on October 14 under the theme “No Security Without Food Security”, highlights hunger amid economic advancement. Despite progress in science, agriculture and medicine, millions lack adequate food. Conflicts, climate shocks, poverty and inequality undermine food security.
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Published by Welthungerhilfe, the Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict (IFHV) at Ruhr University Bochum, and Swiss organisation Helvetas, the report calls for food security to become central to security policy. The GHI score of 18.1 indicates moderate hunger, masking severe deprivation.
According to the United Nations’ State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2026 report, approximately 64.5 crore people, or 7.8 per cent of the global population, experienced hunger in 2025. Hunger has risen in 32 countries since 2018.
India’s performance is disconcerting. Despite being a major economy and agricultural producer, it faces hunger challenges.
India ranked 100th among 122 countries in the 2026 GHI, scoring 24.1 and placing in the “serious” category. The index ranges from 0, indicating no hunger, to 100, the worst possible level.
India improved from 102nd position, scoring 25.8 in 2025, but its rank has deteriorated from 55th among 76 countries in 2014. Comparisons require caution because methodology and country coverage have changed. Still, the figures point to persistent deprivation.
The GHI measures hunger through undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and under-five mortality. Undernourishment reflects insufficient dietary energy; stunting indicates chronic undernutrition, while wasting signals acute undernutrition.
In India, 9.8 per cent of the population, or approximately 14.25 crore people, is undernourished. Stunting affects 29.3 per cent of children under five, wasting 19 per cent, while under-five mortality stands at 2.7 per cent.
India fares better than Pakistan and Afghanistan but worse than Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Economic size and GDP growth do not automatically deliver better nutritional outcomes. Why has rapid growth not ensured food security for all?
Hunger is not merely the absence of food. A child may consume sufficient calories yet remain malnourished because of inadequate protein, vitamins and minerals. Food security must encompass availability, nutritional quality, affordability, accessibility and safety.
India’s economic growth has expanded productive capacity, but cannot guarantee improved living standards. GDP measures economic output, not how income is distributed or whether households can afford nutritious food. Informal workers, agricultural labourers and small farmers often face insecure employment and low wages.
Economic expansion can coexist with deprivation when inequality and poverty limit purchasing power. Rising prices may leave low-income households unable to afford balanced diets, forcing them to prioritise food over healthcare, education and housing. Women and children are especially vulnerable.
Addressing hunger requires placing nutrition, social justice and human development at the centre of economic policy. Public distribution, decent wages, secure employment, social security and affordable services are investments in human capabilities. Nutritious food must not depend entirely on fluctuating market incomes.
The GHI 2026 reflects India’s progress in reducing hunger since 2000, but also persistent deprivation. Agricultural investment should support small farmers, improve storage, reduce post-harvest losses and promote climate-resilient production. Fair wages, employment and social protection must strengthen household purchasing power.
Nutrition programmes should be judged by their impact on dietary diversity, child growth and maternal health. Healthcare, sanitation, education and safe drinking water are equally important. Reliable data, independent evaluation and transparent governance are essential.
A nation cannot achieve comprehensive development while children remain stunted and families cannot afford nutritious food. Malnutrition undermines the health, education and productive potential of future generations, weakening the promise of a demographic dividend.
India’s ambition to become a developed nation must include eradicating hunger, reducing inequality and guaranteeing nutritious food for all. This requires faster growth, fairer distribution, stronger public services, decent employment and accountable governance.
The battle against hunger remains unfinished. Success will depend not merely on the wealth a country generates, but on ensuring every citizen can lead a healthy, dignified life free from hunger and malnutrition.
The author is an Odisha-based economist and columnist.
