Promoting Healthier Food Environments and Dietary Practices
Social Justice & Development
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
This concept directly impacts human capital development, public health burden, economic productivity, and social equity. It involves governance, policy formulation, inter-ministerial coordination, and the role of statutory bodies in addressing a critical national health challenge, aligning with GS2 syllabus on social sector development and government policies.
Public health nutrition policies aim to improve population health by influencing food systems and individual dietary choices. This involves creating supportive food environments through regulatory measures, educational initiatives, and fiscal interventions to combat malnutrition in all its forms, including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition (obesity) leading to non-communicable diseases.
Facts & tables
- Target Group
- Focuses on children and adolescents as a vulnerable demographic for dietary interventions.
- Problem Addressed
- Combats the rising burden of overweight, obesity, and diet-related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India.
- Approach
- Emphasizes multisectoral, evidence-based policy actions and collaborative initiatives.
- Key Policy Areas
- Includes front-of-pack nutrition labelling, regulation of unhealthy food marketing, taxation of foods high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS), and healthy school food environments.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Social Justice & Development |
| Conceptual area | Welfare Schemes & Social Policies |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) | Leads research and policy recommendations for public health nutrition |
| Niti Aayog | Provides policy guidance and coordination for national development initiatives |
| Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) | Regulates food safety and standards, including labelling and marketing |
| Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Formulates and implements national health policies and programs |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Addresses rising obesity and diet-related NCDs among children and adolescents.
- Key policy tools include front-of-pack labelling, marketing regulation, and HFSS taxation.
- Emphasizes creating healthy school food environments and nutrition literacy.
- Involves a multisectoral approach with institutions like ICMR-NIN, NITI Aayog, and FSSAI.
- Aims to create supportive food environments for improved public health outcomes.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Factual recall, Policy measures |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
Timeline
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Social Justice & Development
Conceptual area
-
Welfare Schemes & Social Policies
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2017
Factual recall, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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ICMR-NIN-led ‘Let’s Fix Our Food’ Consortium Releases Policy Priorities to Promote Healthier Diets for Children and Adolescents
Comprehensive policies to create supportive food environments and improve dietary habits, especially for children and adolescents, are crucial to tackle the dual burden of malnutrition and prevent diet-related NCDs in India through regulatory, educational, and fiscal measures.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2017–2026 · 7 questions
In the news
ICMR-NIN-led ‘Let’s Fix Our Food’ Consortium Releases Policy Priorities to Promote Healthier Diets for Children and Adolescents
Comprehensive policies to create supportive food environments and improve dietary habits, especially for children and adolescents, are crucial to tackle the dual burden of malnutrition and prevent diet-related NCDs in India through regulatory, educational, and fiscal measures.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct ?
1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination.
2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains — built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology.
3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act was passed by the Parliament of India in 2016, not 2018. It aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and places a legal obligation on governments to ensure non-discrimination and accessibility. It also mandates reservations for PwDs, such as increasing the quota to 4% in government employment and 5% in higher education. Statement 2 is Correct: The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) was launched in 2015 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). It focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains: built infrastructure (barrier-free public buildings), transport systems (accessible railways, airports, and roads), and information and communication technology (accessible government websites and digital ecosystems). Statement 3 is Incorrect: The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a Central Public Sector Undertaking registered as a not-for-profit company to provide concessional financial assistance to promote entrepreneurship, self-employment, and higher education among PwDs. However, it was set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, not the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Therefore, the correct option is B.
Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM). It is a central intervention implemented by states, not an intervention of the State Health Departments. Statement 2 is correct: The primary objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by encouraging safe, institutional births. Statement 3 is correct: The scheme provides a cash incentive to mothers to promote institutional delivery, particularly among those from BPL, SC, and ST households. Statement 4 is incorrect: While care for sick infants is a priority under the National Health Mission, the provision of free facilities for sick infants up to one year of age is specifically a feature of the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) launched in 2011. JSY, launched in 2005, is primarily a conditional cash transfer scheme for delivery.
Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’?
1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The National Nutrition Mission, also known as Poshan Abhiyaan, has several objectives. - The first objective is to create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. - The second objective is to reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women. These two objectives are clearly stated in the mission's goals. Hence, statements 1 & 2 are correct. However, the promotion of the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice, and the promotion of the consumption of poultry eggs are not explicitly stated as objectives of the mission. Hence, statement 3 & 4 are incorrect.
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013 consider the following statements:
1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: In 2013, NFSA was enacted to provide food security to 67% of the population in the form of highly subsidized food grains at Rs. 2 and 3 per Kg for wheat and rice respectively. Beneficiaries are identified using Socio-economic Caste Census (SECC) methodology so even non-BPL will also benefit. Statement 2 is correct: Under the NFSA, to issue ration cards the eldest woman of a household aged 18 years or above would be considered as head. Hence, this statement is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious take home ration of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months, says the official act.
Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)?
The Central Government introduced the National Pension System (NPS) with effect from January 1, 2004 (except for armed forces). Subsequently, various State Governments adopted this architecture and implemented NPS with effect from different dates. Eligibility to join
- Any citizen of India, whether resident or non-resident, subject to the following conditions.
- Individuals who are aged between 18 60 years, including NRIs.
- After attaining 60 years of age, you will not be permitted to make further contributions to the NPS accounts
Show 3 more PYQs
With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements
1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is responsible for PMKVY, not the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Statement 2 is Correct. PMKVY goes beyond technical skills training and incorporates soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital literacy to make participants more employable. Statement 3 is Correct. A core objective of PMKVY is to bridge the gap between the skills of the unregulated workforce and industry requirements by aligning them with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). This standardization helps ensure a minimum level of competency and improves employment opportunities.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I :India's public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.
Statement-II: Under India's decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement I is correct: India's public healthcare system prioritises curative care, which focuses on treating existing illnesses. Preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative care, which aims to prevent diseases, promote good health, and help people recover from illness, receive less emphasis. * Statement II is correct: India's healthcare system follows a decentralised approach. The central government sets policies and provides financial assistance, but individual states are responsible for organising and delivering health services to their populations. This allows for flexibility based on local needs and contexts.
Therefore, the answer is Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is correct. The Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion aims to demonstrate improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with a cluster approach. Statement 2 is also correct. Millets are mainly grown in regions of low annual rainfall and poor arid soil. It is inadequate, small, marginal and tribal farmers, who cannot afford costly irrigation practices, depend on the cultivation of millets. Hence these farmers benefit from the scheme and have a larger stake in this scheme. Statement 3 is not correct. There is no such provision to encourage commercial crop farmers to shift to millet cultivation.