2021 Global Nutrition Report (GNR, 2021)

Context

In the recently released report, 2021 Global Nutrition Report (GNR, 2021), India has made no progress on anaemia and childhood wasting.

Key-findings of the report

• India featured among the 161 countries documented in the report as having made no progress or said to be worsening with regards to reducing anaemia.

Anaemia

• Over half of Indian women in the age group 15-49 years are anaemic.
• There has been a rise in anaemic Indian women since 2016. In 2016, 52.6 per cent of Indian women were anaemic. But in 2020, 53 per cent were found to be anaemic.

Childhood wasting

• India is also among 23 countries that have made no progress or are worsening on reducing ‘childhood wasting’. 
  • Wasting refers to children whose weight is low-for-their height.
• Over 17 per cent of Indian children under 5 years of age are affected. This figure is much higher than the average for Asia where close to 9 per cent children are affected.