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Global Hunger Index 2024 - UPSC Social Issues
What is Global Hunger Index 2024 in UPSC Social Issues?
Global Hunger Index 2024 is a key topic under Social Issues for UPSC Civil Services Examination. Key points include: India ranks 105th out of 127 countries in GHI 2024 with a "serious" score of 27.3.. Child wasting at 18.7% is the highest globally for India, indicating acute undernutrition.. GHI uses four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.. Understanding this topic is essential for both UPSC Prelims and Mains preparation.
Why is Global Hunger Index 2024 important for UPSC exam?
Global Hunger Index 2024 is a Medium-level topic in UPSC Social Issues. It is tested in both Prelims (factual MCQs) and Mains (analytical answer writing). Previous year UPSC questions have frequently covered aspects of Global Hunger Index 2024, making it essential for comprehensive IAS preparation.
How to prepare Global Hunger Index 2024 for UPSC?
To prepare Global Hunger Index 2024 for UPSC: (1) Study the comprehensive notes covering all key concepts on Vaidra. (2) Practice previous year questions on this topic. (3) Connect it with current affairs using daily updates. (4) Revise using key takeaways and mind maps available for Social Issues. (5) Write practice answers linking Global Hunger Index 2024 to related GS Paper topics.
Key takeaways of Global Hunger Index 2024 for UPSC
- India ranks 105th out of 127 countries in GHI 2024 with a "serious" score of 27.3.
- Child wasting at 18.7% is the highest globally for India, indicating acute undernutrition.
- GHI uses four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.
- The report is published annually by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
- India's performance is worse than several South Asian neighbours like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
- Addressing hunger is crucial for achieving India's SDG commitments and public health goals, including TB elimination.
Global Hunger Index 2024
Medium⏱️ 9 min read
social issues
📖 Introduction
Overview of Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 report highlights a “serious” hunger crisis globally, driven by persistent challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition.
India's Rank and Score: India is ranked 105th out of 127 countries in the GHI 2024. The country received a score of 27.3, categorizing its hunger level as “serious.”
This ranking underscores the ongoing need for robust interventions to address nutritional deficiencies and food access across the nation.
What is the Global Hunger Index (GHI)?
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is an annual, peer-reviewed report that comprehensively measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and national levels.
It reflects multiple dimensions of hunger over time, providing a critical tool for policymakers and humanitarian organizations.
Publishing Bodies: The GHI is jointly published by Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian organization, and Welthungerhilfe, a private aid organization based in Germany.
Concern Worldwide: Focuses on addressing poverty and alleviating suffering in the world’s poorest countries.
Welthungerhilfe: Founded in 1962 as the German branch of the “Freedom from Hunger Campaign.”
GHI Score Calculation
The GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale, designed to reflect the severity of hunger in a country.
Score Interpretation: A score of 0 represents the best possible outcome (implying no hunger), while a score of 100 indicates the worst possible scenario (extreme hunger).
Four Component Indicators of GHI
The GHI score is derived from four equally weighted component indicators that capture different aspects of hunger and malnutrition:
- Undernourishment: This indicator measures the share of the population whose calorie intake is insufficient to sustain a healthy life. It is defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- Child Stunting: This refers to the proportion of children under the age of five who have low height for their age. It is a reflection of chronic undernutrition, indicating long-term deprivation.
- Child Wasting: This measures the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height. It signifies acute undernutrition, often resulting from recent and severe food deprivation or disease.
- Child Mortality: This indicator represents the share of children who die before their fifth birthday. It reflects, in part, the fatal combination of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.
Key Findings of GHI 2024
The GHI 2024 report presents specific findings for India and outlines broader global trends in hunger.
India-Specific Findings (2024):
- GHI Score: 27.3 (categorized as “serious”).
- Improvement: Slightly improved from 28.7 in 2023 (also “serious”).
- Undernourishment: 13.7% of children are undernourished.
- Child Stunting: 35.5% of children are stunted.
- Child Wasting: 18.7% of children are wasted (notably the highest globally).
- Child Mortality Rate: 2.9%.
Global Trends in GHI 2024: The global GHI score for 2024 is 18.3, a slight improvement from 18.8 in 2016. This global score is considered “moderate.”
Notably, India's South Asian neighbours, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, perform better and are categorized in the “moderate” hunger category.
India's Commitment to Eliminate TB
While distinct from GHI, the source material mentions India's commitment to eliminating Tuberculosis (TB), which is related to public health and nutrition.
SDG Target 3.3: India is committed to eliminating TB by 2025, five years ahead of the global deadline of 2030, as part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commitments.
This ambitious goal reflects a national priority to improve public health outcomes.
Key Goals for TB Elimination:
- 80% reduction in TB incidence from 2015 levels.
- 90% reduction in TB mortality from 2015 levels.
- Elimination of catastrophic health costs for TB-affected households.
This commitment has been reiterated at various high-level forums and through international declarations.
High-Level Initiatives:
- “End TB Summit” (2018)
- “One World TB Summit” (2023)
- India's signing of the Gandhinagar Declaration, adopted at a meeting in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, to track progress on TB elimination in the South-East Asia Region.
India's Initiatives to Eliminate TB
To achieve its TB elimination targets, India has launched several comprehensive programs and campaigns:
- National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)
- Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
- National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Tuberculosis Elimination (2017-2025)
- TB Harega Desh Jeetega Campaign
- Nikshay Poshan Yojana
💡 Key Takeaways
- •India ranks 105th out of 127 countries in GHI 2024 with a "serious" score of 27.3.
- •Child wasting at 18.7% is the highest globally for India, indicating acute undernutrition.
- •GHI uses four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.
- •The report is published annually by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
- •India's performance is worse than several South Asian neighbours like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
- •Addressing hunger is crucial for achieving India's SDG commitments and public health goals, including TB elimination.
🧠 Memory Techniques
95% Verified Content
📚 Reference Sources
•Concern Worldwide (GHI publisher)
•Welthungerhilfe (GHI publisher)
•Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)