Nutritional Intake in India Report

The National Statistics Office (NSO) has released its latest report, “Nutritional Intake in India,” providing detailed insights into the daily intake of calories, protein, and fat among the Indian population.

• This report is based on back-to-back Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys (HCES) conducted from August 2022 to July 2024.
• The surveys covered two consecutive periods: August 2022–July 2023 and August 2023–July 2024, collecting comprehensive data on household food consumption across states, sectors, and expenditure classes.

Key Findings on Nutritional Intake (Average Daily Per Capita):

• Calorie Intake:
  • Rural India: Stood at 2,233 Kcal in 2022–23, slightly decreasing to 2,212 Kcal in 2023–24.
  • Urban India: Recorded a marginal decline from 2,250 Kcal to 2,240 Kcal in 2023–24.
  • Expenditure Disparity (2023–24):
    • Lowest 5% (expenditure class): 1,688 Kcal in rural India and 1,696 Kcal in urban India.
    • Top 5% (expenditure class): 2,941 Kcal in rural areas and 3,092 Kcal in urban areas. This highlights a significant disparity in calorie consumption between the richest and poorest households.
• Protein Intake:
  • Remained stable at around 62 grams in rural areas and 63 grams in urban centres during both survey periods.
• Fat Intake:
  • Estimated at about 60 grams per day in rural India and nearly 70 grams in urban India during both survey periods.

Primary Source of Protein and Changing Trends:

• Cereals continue to be the primary source of protein for Indians.
  • They account for nearly 46–47% of protein intake in rural areas.
  • They contribute about 39% in urban regions.
• Declining Share of Cereals: The share of cereals as a protein source has declined sharply over the past decade:
  • By about 14% in rural India.
  • By nearly 12% in urban India. This indicates a diversification in dietary patterns.

(Source: AIR)