The National Statistical Office has released the latest “Nutritional Intake in India” report based on Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys (HCES) conducted across 2022–23 and 2023–24. These back-to-back surveys provide comprehensive insights into daily per capita and per consumer unit intake of calories, protein, and fat, disaggregated by state, rural and urban sectors, and consumption expenditure classes.
The findings indicate broad continuity in nutritional patterns over the two years, with slight improvements observed among the bottom expenditure fractile classes. In rural areas, per capita daily calorie intake stood at 2,233 Kcal in 2022–23 and 2,212 Kcal in 2023–24, while urban averages were 2,250 Kcal and 2,240 Kcal respectively. When measured per consumer unit, the intake was notably higher: rural figures were 2,407 Kcal and 2,383 Kcal across the two years, and urban figures 2,488 Kcal and 2,472 Kcal.
Similarly, average per capita daily protein intake hovered around 61.9 grams in rural and 63.4 grams in urban India, with fat intake showing 60.4 grams in rural and 69.8 grams in urban areas during 2023–24. These values confirm only modest nutritional shifts, while adjusted intake estimates—which account for meals shared with non-household members and other variables—remained slightly lower but consistent in trend.
A marked finding was that calorie intake rose among the bottom five expenditure classes in rural areas and the bottom six in urban areas during 2023–24 compared to the previous year, indicating improved consumption at lower income levels. However, wide variations persist across states and consumption brackets.
Calorie consumption displayed a strong positive correlation with Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE). For example, in 2023–24, the bottom 5 percent of rural and urban households consumed 1,688 and 1,696 Kcal respectively per capita daily, while the top 5 percent consumed 2,941 and 3,092 Kcal. The narrowing gap between the poorest and richest groups from 2022–23 to 2023–24 underscores a slow but meaningful reduction in nutritional inequality.
Protein sourcing continues to evolve, with cereals remaining the dominant contributor, especially in rural India (about 46 percent in 2023–24), though their share has declined significantly since 2009–10. Urban India showed a sharper shift, with cereals contributing 39 percent in 2023–24, down from over 51 percent in 2009–10. This dietary transition is offset by growing contributions from eggs, fish, meat, milk products and other foods across both sectors.
The report’s long-term nutritional trendlines reflect marginal gains in average calorie and protein intake since 2009–10 but also reveal that dietary diversification is in progress. The share of protein from animal sources and non-cereal food groups has steadily risen, pointing to a changing food landscape influenced by rising incomes, urbanisation, and awareness.
These findings are poised to aid policymakers, researchers, and public health experts in refining targeted nutrition strategies, ensuring more inclusive welfare delivery and monitoring dietary quality as a key indicator of social development.
