Q1. Despite being food-secure, India continues to face the challenge of “hidden hunger.” In this context, examine how a shift in nutritional strategy could address micronutrient and protein deficiencies.
Analytical Focus for Answer (AFfA):
- Hidden hunger context: Explain the contrast between food availability and nutritional inadequacy in India.
- Need for shift: From calorie sufficiency to nutrient sufficiency.
- Innovative approaches: Role of biofortified crops, fortified foods, and improved dietary diversification.
- Institutional efforts: Government and private initiatives in fortification and public nutrition missions.
- Critical perspective: Challenges of affordability, awareness, and regulatory oversight (FSSAI).
- Conclusion: Need for a multi-sectoral approach linking agriculture, health, and biotechnology for nutritional equity.
Model Answer
Introduction
India has achieved self-sufficiency in food grain production, but nutrition security remains elusive. Hidden hunger — the deficiency of essential micronutrients despite adequate calorie intake — continues to impair human capital formation. The National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) shows 35.5 % children stunted and 57 % women anaemic, revealing deep nutritional inequities.
Nature of the Problem
Hidden hunger reflects insufficient vitamins, minerals, and quality proteins: major causes of anaemia, stunting, and low immunity.
The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS 2019) confirms that over 80 % of adolescents are deficient in key micronutrients such as iron and vitamin D.
Protein intake averages 47 g/day vs ICMR-NIN recommendation of 60 g/day: indicating diet imbalance despite rising food expenditure.
Need for Strategic Shift
Nutrition policy must move beyond calorie sufficiency: towards nutrient sufficiency and diet diversity.
Integration of health, agriculture, and education is crucial for addressing multi-dimensional malnutrition.
Emphasis should shift to improving dietary quality rather than quantity.
Technological and Policy Innovations
Biofortification initiatives: Zinc-enriched rice by IIRR and iron-rich pearl millet by ICRISAT address local deficiencies.
Functional food regulation: FSSAI’s Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, and Functional Foods) Regulations 2016 provides a framework for nutrient-enriched foods.
Policy support: The 2024 BioE3 Policy under the Department of Biotechnology identifies “functional foods and smart proteins” as priority innovation areas.
Implementation and Equity Concerns
- Affordability and awareness gaps restrict access among rural and low-income households.
- Absence of field-level convergence between agriculture and nutrition missions weakens outreach.
- Regulatory capacity under FSSAI remains limited for evaluating new fortificants and novel ingredients.
Conclusion
India’s hidden hunger problem demands a reoriented nutritional strategy — one that combines scientific innovation, affordable access, and behavioural change. Functional and biofortified foods can be transformative only if embedded in inclusive public-health and agricultural frameworks ensuring both equity and sustainability.
Q2. The search for sustainable and ethical sources of nutrition is reshaping global food systems. Discuss how India can align its agricultural and biotechnology policies to achieve a climate-resilient nutritional future.
Analytical Focus for Answer (AFfA):
- Introduction: Briefly note the twin crises of malnutrition and environmental stress.
- Changing paradigms: Global trend toward alternative proteins, sustainable farming, and functional nutrition.
- India’s opportunities: Agricultural diversity, biotechnology ecosystem, and policy tools like BioE3.
- Integration challenge: Coordination across agriculture, health, environment, and industry ministries.
- Institutional reforms: Clear regulatory framework under FSSAI; investment in R&D, fermentation, and biomanufacturing.
- Socio-economic dimension: Farmer inclusion, skill creation, and consumer trust in “new-age” foods.
- Conclusion: India’s nutritional transformation must balance innovation, inclusivity, and sustainability to lead the global food transition.
Model Answer
Introduction
Food systems worldwide are transitioning to meet dual objectives — nutrition security and environmental sustainability. For India, which faces persistent protein gaps and climate-induced stress on agriculture, aligning biotechnology with sustainable nutrition goals is both a necessity and an opportunity.
Context and Rationale
- Traditional livestock contributes around 14 % of global greenhouse gas emissions (FAO 2023).
- India’s food demand will rise 70 % by 2050, intensifying pressure on land and water.
- Smart proteins and functional foods offer climate-resilient alternatives that reduce resource intensity while enhancing nutrition.
Policy and Institutional Framework
- BioE3 Policy (2024): Recognises “smart proteins and functional foods” among six strategic biotechnology themes; promotes biomanufacturing hubs and bio-foundries. (Source: Press Information Bureau, 24 Aug 2024)
- FSSAI Regulations (2016 & 2017): Provide legal basis for approval and safety testing of novel foods, functional foods, and nutraceuticals. (Source: fssai.gov.in)
- Research and Development: DBT-BIRAC supports projects on cultivated meat and precision fermentation; CCMB and NIN conduct R&D in alternative proteins.
India’s Agricultural and Technological Synergies
- Diverse pulses, millets, and oilseeds offer raw material for plant-based proteins: aligns with the UN-declared “International Year of Millets 2023.”
- Integration of biotechnology with agri-value chains can enhance farmer participation in the alternative-protein ecosystem.
- Nutrigenomics and bio-processing enable development of tailored foods for health-specific needs.
Challenges to Large-Scale Adoption
- Absence of comprehensive guidelines for cultivated meat and precision-fermented proteins under FSSAI.
- Limited fermentation and cold-chain infrastructure increases production cost.
- Consumer scepticism persists around “lab-grown” foods: requires awareness and transparent communication.
- Need for inter-ministerial coordination across Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Health ministries.
The Way Forward
- Establish a National Framework for Sustainable Nutrition integrating food innovation, safety, and environmental goals.
- Expand public–private partnerships to build fermentation infrastructure and reduce R&D cost.
- Incorporate farmers and MSMEs into the bio-economy through training and market linkages.
- Promote responsible consumer awareness campaigns to enhance acceptability and informed choices.
Conclusion
India’s path to a climate-resilient nutritional future lies in harmonising agriculture with biotechnology and sustainability policies. The synergy of functional foods, smart proteins, and inclusive biomanufacturing can ensure that the nation not only feeds its people but nourishes them ethically and sustainably. With coherent regulation and stakeholder collaboration, India can emerge as a global model for green nutrition transformation.