Nutritional Intake in Rural and Urban India Shows Similar Trends: NSO Report

New Delhi — The latest report by the National Statistics Office (NSO) has revealed that nutritional intake patterns in rural and urban India have shown notable similarities during 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Titled ‘Nutritional Intake in India’, the report highlights that the average daily per capita calorie consumption stood at 2,233 Kcal in rural India and 2,212 Kcal in 2023-24, while urban India recorded 2,250 Kcal in 2022-23 and 2,240 Kcal in 2023-24.

The findings are based on consecutive rounds of the Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys (HCES) conducted from August 2022 to July 2023 and August 2023 to July 2024, gathering detailed data on household food consumption.

The report notes a rise in average daily per capita and per consumer unit calorie intake among the bottom five fractile classes (the lowest income groups) in rural India and the bottom six fractile classes in urban areas between 2022-23 and 2023-24.

The data also shows a direct correlation between rising Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) and increased calorie intake across both rural and urban populations.

A consistent pattern is seen in daily intake of calories, protein, and fat across rural and urban India during both periods. The report highlights that nutritional intake improves with rising income levels, as indicated by MPCE figures.

Significantly, the gap in calorie consumption between the bottom 5 per cent and the top 5 per cent of the population — based on expenditure levels — has narrowed in both rural and urban areas during 2023-24, indicating reduced nutritional inequality.

Comparing long-term trends, the report shows a modest increase in average daily per capita calorie consumption from 2009-10 to 2023-24 across India, along with a similar rise in protein intake during the same period.

Cereals remain the primary source of protein, accounting for around 46-47 per cent of protein intake in rural areas and approximately 39 per cent in urban areas during both periods. However, the contribution of cereals to protein intake has declined by about 14 per cent in rural India and 12 per cent in urban India since 2009-10.

This decline has been offset by increased consumption of eggs, fish, meat, other food items, and a marginal rise in milk and dairy products, reflecting improved living standards across both sectors.

Despite these positive developments, the report highlights significant variation in average calorie intake across major Indian states in both 2022-23 and 2023-24.

With inputs from IANS