The composition and affordability of Indian diets: Analysis of household consumption expenditure data
Raghunathan, Kalyani and Singh, Anshuman and Sinha, Dipa (2026) The composition and affordability of Indian diets: Analysis of household consumption expenditure data. Working Paper. Azim Premji University, Bengaluru.
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Abstract
India exhibits high and persistent rates of undernutrition and a growing prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies—particularly anemia—as well as overweight and obesity. Addressing this triple burden requires diverse, nutritious diets, yet Indian diets remain limited in diversity and nutritional quality, characterized by heavy reliance on cereals and cereal-based foods. Previous studies have shown that diets consistent with India’s food-based dietary guidelines are unaffordable for a large proportion of the population. Using data from the 2023–24 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey, we characterize dietary composition and food expenditure in India. We then use derived commodity-level prices to provide updated and representative estimates of the cost and affordability of vegetarian and nonvegetarian diets that meet India’s food-based dietary guidelines. We find that Indian diets are high in visible fat consumption and that most protein is derived from low-quality sources, such as cereals, while consumption of nutrient-dense or high-protein foods remains limited even for the richest deciles. We estimate the daily cost of a healthy vegetarian diet at INR 63.6 per consumer unit and a non-vegetarian diet at INR 73.1 at the all-India level. An estimated 31.2% of urban and 56.6% of the rural population would need to increase their current food expenditure to meet the cost of a healthy diet. If instead we compare our costs against the threshold defined by the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report, we find that 8.3% of urban and 32.6% of rural populations cannot afford a nutritionally adequate diet. While social safety nets subsidize cereals, thereby increasing affordability for the poorest, additional items such as spices and cooking fuel raise total costs. We assess these extensions and discuss policy implications.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Working Paper) |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Raghunathan, Kalyani and Singh, Anshuman and Sinha, Dipa |
| Document Language: | Language English |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Triple burden of malnutrition, Dietary diversity and affordability, Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (2023–24), Cost of healthy diet in India, Food security and nutrition policy |
| Subjects: | Social sciences Social sciences > Economics |
| Divisions: | Azim Premji University - Bengaluru > University Publications > Working Paper > CSIE working paper series |
| Full Text Status: | Public |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | http://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/id/eprint/6710 |
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