Model Answer

Nutritional security ensures access to balanced diets containing essential nutrients. India's 2026 Poshan Maah emphasised dietary diversity and adequate protein intake, highlighting the shift from calorie security towards comprehensive nutrition.

Importance of Protein for Nutritional Security

1. Physical growth supports muscle and tissue development, particularly among children.
2. Immunity strengthens resistance to infections and supports recovery.
3. Maternal health supports healthy pregnancies and child development.
4. Human capital improves health and productivity, supporting India's demographic dividend.

Major Challenges

1. Cereal-dominated diets limit protein diversity. e.g: Cereals contributed 46–47% of rural protein intake in 2023–24.
2. Affordability constraints restrict access to protein-rich foods. e.g: Rising prices of pulses, milk and eggs.
3. Dietary inequalities affect women, children and low-income households.
4. Awareness gaps encourage calorie-heavy rather than balanced diets.
5. Supply constraints affect affordable protein availability. e.g: India's dependence on pulse imports.

Measures to Build a Nutritious India

1. Diversify welfare meals by including pulses, eggs and dairy where appropriate. e.g: PM-POSHAN and Anganwadi supplementary nutrition.
2. Promote affordable proteins through local foods. e.g: Sattu, roasted chana, soybean and groundnuts.
3. Strengthen pulse production through improved seeds, procurement and crop diversification.
4. Improve nutrition awareness using ICMR-NIN dietary guidelines and Poshan Maah campaigns.
5. Target vulnerable groups through maternal nutrition and child-feeding programmes. e.g: Mission Poshan 2.0.
6. Encourage balanced diets combining complementary protein sources. e.g: Dal-rice and idli-sambar.

A nutritious India requires moving beyond foodgrain availability towards affordable, diverse and protein-adequate diets through sustainable agriculture and inclusive nutrition programmes.