New Delhi: Over the past decade, the monthly budget for Indian households has undergone a significant transformation. In both rural and urban regions, per capita expenditures have risen, while the proportion spent on food has diminished. This shift indicates a diversification of the economy.
Such subtle changes in India’s food consumption reflect a broader narrative of progress.
“India’s dietary transition shows progress but still has persistent gaps,” states the paper titled Food consumption patterns and their micronutrient content in India: Evidence from the household consumption expenditure surveys, 2011–12 and 2023–24, published in Nature and co-authored by Professor Shamika Ravi, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
The study reveals that the landscape of food consumption in India has evolved dramatically over the last decade, with significant implications for nutrition security. It identifies noteworthy changes in household expenditures, consumption patterns across key food groups, and dietary sources for specific micronutrients, utilizing data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys (HCES) conducted between 2011-12 and 2023-24.
This transformation is driven by increasing incomes coupled with evolving consumption patterns, further supported by focused welfare initiatives. The emphasis has shifted not merely toward reduced spending on food, but also toward varied dietary options.
Since 2010, the food landscape in India has gradually shifted. Cereals, once the predominant staple in household budgets, now represent a considerably smaller percentage.
“The share of cereals within food budgets has sharply decreased, especially among the poorest quintiles, likely due to the expansion of food security programs offering subsidized cereals,” the paper notes.
This pronounced decline reflects demands on the supply side as well as the impact from significant food safety initiatives, such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
A noticeable rise in the consumption of nutrient-dense foods like milk, fruits, and even meat in certain regions suggests a slow transition towards more diverse diets.
However, despite this progress, the situation remains intricate. While diets are diversifying, they are not necessarily becoming fully nutritious.
The paper also assesses the evolution of India’s food consumption patterns, highlighting areas of progress while identifying critical gaps that require attention for effective food and nutrition policy implementation.
“The reduction of food expenditure as a share of total household spending—falling below 50 percent in rural areas for the first time since India’s independence—marks improved living standards and economic development,” the paper elaborates.
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Shift in Household Expenditure
The recent study illustrates a multifaceted view of a nation that is changing its eating habits, altering its spending patterns, yet not necessarily becoming healthier.
Despite advancements in food availability and economic growth, challenges related to micronutrient deficiencies remain, particularly among vulnerable populations throughout the country. The paper suggests that efforts to improve nutritional outcomes must extend beyond merely fulfilling basic nutrient needs.
Understanding the nation’s food consumption patterns is crucial for reducing micronutrient deficiencies and developing effective nutritional strategies, according to the study.
Between 2011–12 and 2023–24, the average monthly household expenditure saw a nearly threefold increase in rural areas, rising from Rs 7,531 to Rs 20,789.
In urban India, it escalated from Rs 11,950 to Rs 29,510.
As income levels climbed, the traditional Indian thali evolved as well. Families are now allocating a smaller portion of their budgets to food. The proportion of food spending in total household expenditure has declined—from 53.4 percent to 47.8 percent in rural areas, and from 43.9 percent to 40.8 percent in urban areas.
“Expenditures on non-food items, such as consumables and durable goods, have also increased. Significantly, the expenditure share on cereals has halved over the decade, dropping from 11.24 percent to 5.13 percent in rural areas and from 7.37 percent to 4.04 percent in urban areas,” the study highlights.
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Seasonal and Geographic Disparities
The paper reveals that India’s food consumption is influenced not only by expenditure but also by seasonal and geographical factors.
It points out that seasonal variations continue to impact the intake of perishable foods. Fresh fruit consumption in urban areas peaked in May and fell by December, while rural consumption reached its highest in June, with lows observed in December.
“Vegetable consumption also showed seasonal trends, with the lowest intake in July and the highest in January. Compared to 2011–12, these seasonal fluctuations have lessened, indicating improved supply chain efficiency and year-round availability,” the report indicates.
However, seasonality is just one aspect. Geography plays an even more defining role in India’s food consumption patterns. Fresh fruit intake was highest in southern states like Kerala, while dairy consumption revealed vast regional differences, peaking in northern and western regions and lowest in eastern and southern areas.
Meat consumption has predominantly been observed in the northeast and coastal eastern regions, as well as Kerala. “Vegetable intake was elevated in eastern states, while cereals remained prominent in the east and north, and pulses were more common in central and southern areas,” the study concluded.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)
