A recent government study has revealed that Indian households continue to rely heavily on cereals while falling significantly short on the consumption of pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk and meat, key
components of a balanced diet recommended by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The study, based on the 2022–23 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey data and published in the biannual journal of the Ministry of Statistics, compared food consumption patterns across states and Union Territories against the latest dietary guidelines issued by the ICMR.
According to the findings, cereal intake in most parts of the country far exceeds the recommended monthly limit of 7.5 kg per person. Kerala, along with urban regions of Punjab and Tamil Nadu, were among the few exceptions where cereal consumption remained below the prescribed levels. Among Union Territories, Delhi, Puducherry, Chandigarh and Lakshadweep also recorded lower cereal intake than the recommended benchmark.
The highest cereal consumption in rural India was recorded in West Bengal, Odisha, Tripura and Manipur, where individuals consumed nearly 11.2 kg per person per month. Bihar followed closely at 11.1 kg, while Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh reported consumption levels of 10.5 kg and 10.3 kg respectively.
In urban India, Tripura once again topped the chart with cereal consumption at 11.2 kg per person per month, followed by Manipur at 11.1 kg. Bihar recorded 10.5 kg, while Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh stood at 10.4 kg.
The report also highlighted that dietary patterns generally evolve with rising income levels, where cereal intake tends to decline and protein and fat consumption increase. However, researchers noted that the growing popularity of processed foods and restaurant dining is simultaneously contributing to unhealthy eating habits.
“With more processed foods and food restaurants being available, dining out is becoming a part of lifestyle for a significant proportion of the population,” the study observed. Medical experts cited in the report warned that such dietary shifts could lead to a higher prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the country, eventually affecting productivity and increasing healthcare expenditure.
The study also found alarmingly low vegetable consumption across both rural and urban India. Against the recommended intake of 12 kg per person per month, even the highest-consuming state, Chhattisgarh, reported only 6.7 kg in rural areas and 8.3 kg in urban areas. In nearly 15 states and Union Territories, vegetable consumption remained below 5 kg per month.
Pulses consumption, another critical marker of protein intake, also remained significantly lower than recommended levels. The ICMR prescribes 2.6 kg of pulses per month for vegetarians and 1.7 kg for non-vegetarians. However, data from nearly 28 states and Union Territories showed pulse consumption of less than 1 kg per month, indicating a serious likelihood of protein deficiency among large sections of the population.
