On World Food Day 2025, the Government of India reiterated its commitment to ensuring food and nutritional security for over 81 crore citizens through robust welfare schemes and agricultural initiatives aimed at equitable food access.
Observed globally on October 16, World Food Day promotes awareness of access to safe, nutritious, and sustainable food for all. This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”, underscores collective efforts toward global food equity.
In an official statement, the government defined food security as ensuring that “all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”
It emphasised that India’s food security framework is anchored in a dual approach, strengthening agricultural productivity and ensuring equitable distribution.
Over the past decade, India has implemented multiple welfare and agricultural initiatives, addressing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty while promoting sustainable agricultural growth.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, remains the cornerstone of India’s food distribution system, complemented by the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), Decentralised Procurement Scheme (DCP), and Open Market Sale Scheme – Domestic (OMSS-D). These programmes ensure affordable food grains to nearly 81 crore citizens while stabilising market prices and safeguarding vulnerable households from hunger.
The government also highlighted the role of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), launched in 2007–08 and later expanded as the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) in 2014–15. The mission focuses on increasing the production of key commodities such as wheat, pulses, milk, and honey, ensuring that agricultural growth aligns with nutritional goals.
According to official data, India’s foodgrain production has increased by 90 million metric tonnes in the last decade, while fruit and vegetable output rose by over 64 million metric tonnes. The country now ranks first globally in milk and millet production and second in fish, fruit, and vegetable output. Honey and egg production have also doubled since 2014, reflecting progress in the livestock and apiculture sectors.
India’s agricultural exports have nearly doubled over the past 11 years, further strengthening its position in the global agri-economy.
Other key initiatives supporting the country’s food security include Rice Fortification, PM POSHAN (POshan SHAkti Nirman), Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS), Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC), and Public Distribution System (PDS).
“These government welfare schemes reflect India’s continued commitment to ending hunger and malnutrition effectively,” the statement added, marking the country’s ongoing efforts to build a sustainable and inclusive food ecosystem.
