Context: Recently, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 report was published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, ranking India 105th out of 127 countries. 

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• This 19th edition of the report highlights persistent challenges in addressing hunger and malnutrition in India.
• Theme: The theme for the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) is "How gender justice can advance climate resilience and zero hunger".
• India's GHI score of 27.3 places it in the "serious" category for hunger levels, alongside countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan. 
• This ranking raises concerns about the country's progress in combating hunger and malnutrition.
• Based on its analysis, the report concludes the chances of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 are looking very unlikely.

Key Findings of the Report

• Comparative Analysis: India's performance is particularly concerning when compared to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, which fall into the "moderate" category for hunger levels.
• Alarming Statistics: The report reveals that 13.7% of India's population is undernourished, while 35.5% of children under five are stunted. Additionally, 18.7% of children suffer from wasting, and 2.9% of children die before their fifth birthday.
• Long-term Implications: The GHI 2024 report warns that without significant progress, the hunger crisis in the world's poorest countries could persist for decades, highlighting the need for urgent and decisive action.

About Global Hunger Index

• The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels.
• Each country’s GHI score is calculated based on a formula that combines four indicators that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger:

                Undernourishment: the share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient;

               Child stunting: the share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition;

               Child wasting: the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition; and

               Child mortality: the share of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environment. 

• Based on the values of the four indicators, a GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger, where 0 is the best possible score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst. 
• Each country’s GHI score is classified by severity, from low to extremely alarming.