Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning
Q5. Define the idea of nutritional poverty in the context of inclusive growth. Analyse how it exposes the limitations of India’s welfare-oriented economic model. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: TH
Why the question:
The understanding of nutritional poverty as a multidimensional economic issue and its linkage with limitations of India’s welfare-based growth model. It connects public health, inclusive growth, and policy design.Key Demand of the question:
The question demands explaining the meaning and dimensions of nutritional poverty in relation to inclusive growth, and critically examining how it exposes the gaps in India’s welfare-oriented economic and food security approach.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction:Define nutritional poverty and link it to inclusive growth and human development goals.
Body:
- Explain nutritional poverty as a hidden dimension of inequality, supported by NFHS/ICMR data.
- Analyse the welfare model’s calorie bias, policy fragmentation, lack of preventive focus, and suggest system-level limitations.
Conclusion:
Conclude with the need to move from welfare-driven calorie supply to a nutrition-centric development model integrating agriculture, health, and education.
