Hunger and poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement. (UPSC 2017)

Hunger and poverty remain serious tests of good governance because they damage dignity, health and equal citizenship. Successive governments have made visible progress, but the challenge is far from solved, especially in nutrition, diet quality and exclusion.

• Progress made: Article 21, Article 47 and the National Food Security Act have strengthened the right to food; food support now covers about two-thirds of the population.
• Poverty reduction: Extreme poverty and multidimensional poverty have declined, reflecting better access to housing, sanitation, electricity and basic services.
• Continuing concerns: Child stunting and wasting have reduced, yet hunger, low diet diversity, inflation and weak delivery keep many families food-insecure.

Measures: Shift from calorie security to nutrition security, diversify PDS with pulses and millets, improve targeting and grievance redress, strengthen anganwadis and school meals, and support livelihoods with resilient local food systems.