Which organization publishes the Global Hunger Index, and what's India's recent rank?

Direct Answer

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is jointly published by two European non-governmental organizations: Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.

As per the Global Hunger Index Report, 2023, India ranked 111th out of 125 countries with a score of 28.7, indicating a "serious" level of hunger. The Government of India has contested the methodology and data sources used for this ranking, arguing that it presents an erroneous measure of hunger and does not reflect the country's true situation, especially regarding the indicator of child wasting.

The GHI score is calculated based on four component indicators:

1. Undernourishment: The share of the population with insufficient caloric intake.
2. Child Wasting: The share of children under five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition.
3. Child Stunting: The share of children under five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.
4. Child Mortality: The mortality rate of children under the age of five.

Historical Context

The GHI has been an important, albeit controversial, tool for tracking global hunger since its inception.

1. 2006: The index was first published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Welthungerhilfe.
2. 2007: Concern Worldwide joined as a co-publisher.
3. 2015: The GHI methodology was revised to align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). The previous indicators (e.g., child underweight) were replaced with child wasting and child stunting to provide a more comprehensive picture of undernutrition.
4. 2018: IFPRI stepped back from its role as a co-publisher, leaving Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe as the primary publishers.

India's performance on the GHI has been a subject of continuous debate. The government has consistently highlighted its efforts in food security and nutrition, which it claims are not adequately captured by the index.

India's GHI Rank and Score Over Recent Years

Significance

The GHI is significant for several reasons within the context of India's social development and economy:

• Policy Evaluation: It serves as an external assessment of the effectiveness of government interventions aimed at food security and nutrition. Key schemes include the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, which provides subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the population; the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY), which provided additional free food grains during the COVID-19 pandemic; and the POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), launched in 2018 to reduce stunting, undernutrition, and anaemia.
• Indicator of Social Development: Hunger and malnutrition are critical barriers to human capital formation. As per the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019-21), India's child stunting rate was 35.5%, child wasting was 19.3%, and the underweight rate was 32.1%. These figures, particularly the high rate of wasting, are a major concern and directly impact the GHI score.
• International Comparison: The index allows for cross-country comparisons, highlighting India's position relative to its neighbours and other developing nations. For instance, in the GHI 2023, neighbouring countries like Pakistan (102), Bangladesh (81), Nepal (69), and Sri Lanka (60) were ranked above India.
• Economic Impact: High levels of malnutrition have long-term economic consequences, including reduced productivity, increased healthcare costs, and a lower demographic dividend. The World Bank has frequently stated that investments in early childhood nutrition are among the most effective ways to boost economic growth.

UPSC Angle

For the UPSC Civil Services Examination, examiners expect a nuanced and multi-dimensional understanding of the GHI, moving beyond just the rank.

• Critical Analysis, Not Rote Memorization: Simply stating the rank is insufficient. You must be able to critically analyze the GHI's methodology, its components, and the reasons for India's specific performance. Be prepared to discuss the Government of India's official rebuttal, which questions the use of a small-sample 'Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)' opinion poll for the undernourishment indicator and argues that the other three indicators relate to child health, not the entire population's hunger.
• Linkage with Syllabus: Connect the GHI to core syllabus topics. For GS Paper 2 (Social Justice), link it to issues of poverty, hunger, and the performance of welfare schemes. For GS Paper 3 (Indian Economy), connect it to food security, public distribution system (PDS), buffer stocks, agricultural policy, and human capital formation.
• Data-Driven Arguments: Your answers must be substantiated with data from official sources. Quote figures from the Economic Survey on food grain production and procurement, Union Budget allocations for food subsidies and nutrition schemes, and NFHS-5 data on health indicators. For example, you could mention the record food grain production (e.g., 'As per the Ministry of Agriculture's 3rd Advance Estimates for 2022-23, total foodgrain production was estimated at a record 330.5 million tonnes') to build a counter-argument or provide context.
• Balanced Viewpoint: Acknowledge both the utility of the GHI as a tool for advocacy and accountability, and the valid criticisms regarding its methodology. Conclude with a forward-looking perspective, suggesting policy improvements in areas like PDS reforms (e.g., 'One Nation, One Ration Card'), agricultural diversification towards nutri-cereals, and strengthening the implementation of POSHAN 2.0.