Relevance: GS-II (Health) and GS-III (Food Security)

The News and Issue

An all-India analysis led by the Indian Council of Medical Research flags a cereal-heavy, protein-light plate—linked with rising obesity, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular risk.

Most households still draw a big share of calories from refined grains—polished rice in the East and South, and refined wheat in the North. Proteins (pulses, dairy, eggs, fish or meat) are low, and saturated fat often sits above safe limits. Refined cereals digest fast, spike blood sugar (high glycemic index), and leave us hungry sooner. Traditional millets—ragi, bajra, jowar—deliver fibre, minerals and slower sugars but remain scarce on urban plates.

Why policy matters

• Food systems: The National Food Security Act and the Public Distribution System still centre on rice and wheat; states can now include millets and pulses—few do at scale.
  
• Schemes to quote: Poshan Abhiyaan, PM-Poshan school meals, Eat Right India guidelines of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and the national push after the International Year of Millets can steer households toward dietary diversity.
  
• Practical swaps:
  
  • Replace one third of daily refined cereal with a mix of millets and whole grains.
    
  • Add one palm-sized protein each meal (pulses, paneer or curd, egg, fish or lean meat).
    
  • Use oils modestly; cut sugary drinks; prefer fermented foods like curd and idli.
    

Key terms

glycemic index • refined grains • dietary diversity • coarse cereals (millets) • protein quality • non-communicable disease

Exam hook

Key takeaways

• A cereal-heavy plate with little protein is driving metabolic risk.
  
• Millets and pulses improve fibre, micronutrients and blood-sugar control.
  
• Align rations, school meals and behaviour campaigns to favour diverse, protein-adequate diets.
  

UPSC Prelims question
Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Millets typically have a lower glycemic index than polished rice and help in better blood-sugar control.
   
2. The National Food Security Act legally restricts states from distributing millets through the Public Distribution System.
   
3. Poshan Abhiyaan seeks to improve dietary diversity among mothers, infants and children.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   

(a) 1 and 3 only 

(b) 2 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 

(d) 1 only
Answer: (a)

One-line wrap
Shift the plate: less refined cereal, more pulses and millets—that is India’s simplest, cheapest health reform.