UPSC Mains 2026 · GS II · Q7 · 10 marks · 150 words

Malnutrition in India is not merely a public health concern; it is also a challenge of social equity, human development and effective welfare governance. Discuss.

हिन्दी में

भारत में कुपोषण मात्र एक सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य समस्या नहीं है, बल्कि यह सामाजिक समता, मानव विकास एवं प्रभावी कल्याणकारी शासन के समक्ष भी एक गंभीर चुनौती है । विवेचना कीजिए ।

Poverty and HungerHealthWelfare Schemes

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “How would you explain the persistence of high malnutrition rates with declining poverty rates in India? (10M)”

Raj Krishna JhaAIR 8 · CSE 2024 · 101 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a figure

India has been able to lift 25 crore individuals out of poverty in last 10 years.

Yet the malnutrition rates are still high:

Body · points

Diagram
Stunting => 35% wasting = 19%

Possible reasons

  1. Nutritional security not achieved ↳ Rice-wheat based meal is priority

  2. High income inequality ↳ Gini coefficient = 0.406 (SBI)

  3. Prevalence of diseases ↳ like Protein deficiency disease, Kwashiorkor

  4. Inadequate health infrastructure ↳ Immunisation is incomplete.

  5. Inadequate antenatal & Prenatal care. ↳ Causing nutrient deficiency buffer

  6. Trans generational transfer of poverty.

Diagram
# ways to curb -> PM POSHAN to be strengthened -> Egg, milk based nutrients to be served -> Social audits & Horticulture -> Health-sanitation improvement in rural areas -> More nutrient filled diet adoption -> e.g. Millets

Close · a way forward

High malnutrition rates would eventually lead to a troubled population, addressing the root through nutrition ben targeting is needed.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2026, General Studies Paper II, Q7. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.