Table of Contents

India’s Changing Role in Food Security

(Relevant for General Studies Paper Prelims/Mains)

India’s Social Security Net: A need of reform

The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon and the robust GDP growth rate of 7.8% in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24 will enhance India’s reputation as a prominent global leader. India can not only demonstrate its exceptional proficiency in space technology but also its adept management of the economy, poised to achieve the highest growth rate among G20 nations for two consecutive years. This achievement is likely to receive commendation from various quarters, and the Prime Minister may use this opportunity to announce India’s emergence on the global stage during the period leading up to 2047, where science and the economy work in harmony for the betterment of humanity. This aligns with the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – One Earth, One Family, One Future.

Status of Food Security Globally

According to the World Bank, hunger affected around 9.2% of the global population in 2022, marking an increase from 7.9% in 2019. The issue of moderate to severe food insecurity impacted a significant 29.6% of the world’s population, which translates to approximately 2.4 billion individuals in 2022. Among them, 11.3% were in the category of severely food insecure.

Fast forward to 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) projects that over 345 million people are grappling with high levels of food insecurity. This alarming figure is more than double the number reported in 2020.

Causes of Food Insecurity

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has severely disrupted the global supply chain. Furthermore, in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, countries have adopted a flurry of trade-related policies. This has exacerbated the global food crisis, primarily due to the increasing number of food trade restrictions implemented by nations aiming to boost domestic supply and lower prices.
As of June 2023, twenty countries have enforced 27 food export bans, while ten countries have implemented 14 export-limiting measures.
Domestic food inflation in many countries has added to the predicament, worsening the issue of food insecurity worldwide. For instance, India has imposed restrictions on the export of wheat and rice to support its domestic population.
Climate change has significantly impacted the availability and quality of essential resources for food production, such as water, land, and biodiversity. It has also altered the patterns and intensity of pests, diseases, and natural disasters, resulting in decreased crop yields and reduced livestock productivity. This shift has led to increased volatility in food prices and a decrease in the purchasing power of vulnerable households.
According to the Global Report on Food Crises, weather and climate extremes were the primary causes of acute food insecurity in 12 countries in 2021, affecting nearly 57 million people.
Economic slowdowns and downturns have curtailed the income and employment prospects of impoverished and marginalized individuals, who allocate a significant portion of their income to food. These economic shocks have also disrupted food supply and demand, causing higher food prices and reduced food quality. Additionally, economic crises have weakened the provision of public services and social protection, both crucial for food security and nutrition.
According to a report from the EU Science Hub, in 2023, economic shocks are anticipated to be the primary driver of acute food insecurity in 22 countries, affecting up to 153.3 million people

Importance of Food Security

Health and Nutrition: Food security plays a pivotal role in enhancing the health and well-being of individuals by averting malnutrition and the associated health issues like stunted growth, cognitive impairments, and heightened susceptibility to diseases. Malnutrition is the cause of death for approximately 3.1 million children annually, accounting for nearly half of all deaths in children below the age of 5.
Economic Stability: Food security bolsters both individual and national economic stability by enabling increased productivity, income generation, and participation in trade. Conversely, food insecurity can lead to reduced productivity and economic instability. A study conducted by the World Bank estimated that the global cost of undernutrition, in terms of lost productivity and human capital, amounted to USD 3.5 trillion each year.
Social Stability: Food security is a pillar of social stability as it prevents food-related conflicts, violence, and mass migrations. In contrast, food insecurity can ignite social unrest and instability due to issues like food shortages, rising prices, and unequal access. According to a United Nations report, food insecurity played a pivotal role in 58% of the conflicts that transpired between 2017 and 2019.
Reduced Poverty: Food security contributes significantly to poverty reduction by enabling people to afford and access nutritious food while also allowing them to invest in other essential needs like education and healthcare. This multifaceted approach helps individuals break free from the cycle of poverty.
Environmental Sustainability: Food security supports environmental sustainability by advocating for the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. These practices preserve natural resources, safeguard biodiversity, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Conversely, unsustainable agricultural methods can harm the environment and jeopardize food security.
National Security: Food security is a bedrock of national security as it guarantees a dependable food supply that is not contingent on external factors such as global food prices or supply chain disruptions. Food insecurity can render nations vulnerable to these external influences, potentially compromising their sovereignty.
Human Dignity and Equity: Food security upholds human dignity and equity by recognizing food as a fundamental human right that should be accessible to all individuals, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or geographical location. Food insecurity can infringe upon this right and create disparities among people. The right to food is a legally recognized right enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Resilience to Crises: Food security fortifies resilience in the face of various crises, including natural disasters, economic downturns, and pandemics. It achieves this by maintaining adequate food reserves and distribution systems capable of withstanding these challenges. Conversely, food insecurity can exacerbate the impact of such crises and impede recovery. The distribution of free food grains by the Indian government to the impoverished and vulnerable during Covid-19 lockdowns serves as a noteworthy example of this resilience.
Sustainable Development: Food security advances the cause of sustainable development by fulfilling one of its core objectives (Goal 2: Zero Hunger) and by supporting other interconnected goals. These include poverty reduction, improved health, gender equality, and environmental sustainability, among others. These goals are mutually reinforcing and intertwined.

What India can contribute in food security in changing scenario of food security?

Developing Cost-Efficient Technologies: India has displayed its prowess in achieving technological feats at remarkably low costs, exemplified by the success of Chandrayaan 3. Following this trajectory, India can also pioneer cost-effective technologies aimed at assisting farmers in overcoming the challenges posed by extreme weather events. These technologies could then be shared with other nations in the Global South. This endeavor is both viable and cost-effective, contingent on the government prioritizing it and implementing a time-bound action plan.
Harnessing Technology for Agricultural Transformation: The overarching objective is to augment the efficiency and resilience of agricultural value chains while promoting digitization as a catalyst for agricultural transformation. Achieving this entails the establishment of standardized agricultural data platforms as digital public goods and harnessing innovative digital technologies to revolutionize the agri-food sector. For instance, sensor-equipped irrigation systems, drones, and Low Earth Orbit satellites (LEOs) can be employed in agriculture to attain more substantial yields using fewer resources, thereby conserving the Earth’s scarce resources.
Increasing Investment: Currently, India allocates a mere 0.48% of its agricultural GDP to agricultural research and development (agri-R&D). To assume a leadership role, this allocation needs to be doubled. A higher investment in agri-R&D, particularly in the domain of biofortification, is imperative. Encouraging research in biofortification and disseminating information about fortified crop varieties to farmers is instrumental in achieving nutritional security. Scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have already demonstrated that staple crops like wheat, rice, maize, and millet can be biofortified with augmented iron, zinc, and antioxidants. ICAR has produced 87 varieties of climate-resistant and nutrient-rich crops. For instance, India has introduced zinc-enriched rice and wheat varieties that could be shared with other Global South countries.
Establishing a Sustainable Multilateral Trading System: The pressing need of the hour is to reinforce a rules-based, open, predictable, transparent, non-discriminatory, inclusive, equitable, and sustainable multilateral trading system. India should further enhance its food systems by strengthening local, regional, and international agri-food value chains. This approach can lead to the availability of affordable and accessible food, agricultural inputs, and products. A sustainable multilateral trading system, anchored by the World Trade Organization (WTO), can augment market predictability and bolster business confidence.
Promoting Millets: India aspires to promote millets on a global scale, even among G20 member nations. However, this necessitates substantial efforts in terms of product innovation and widespread dissemination to establish millets as a staple food similar to quinoa.
Rethinking Agricultural Policies: India must redirect its agricultural policies towards creating a more environmentally sustainable and nutritious food system. Current policies, characterized by open-ended and guaranteed procurement with Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for commodities like paddy and wheat, coupled with extensive subsidies on fertilizers, power, and irrigation, have resulted in substantial damage to natural resources, including soil, water, air, and biodiversity.
Developing a Sustainable Agricultural Model: Thus far, India, along with the United States and China, has not embarked on a significant initiative in this direction. G20 countries should collaborate to formulate a model and a time frame aimed at rendering agriculture less detrimental to the environment.
Time is of the essence, and the G20 must intensify its efforts, work more expeditiously, and adopt innovative approaches with tangible results by 2030. These efforts should address the dual imperative of feeding the global population while simultaneously preserving the planet through greener and cleaner practices.

Sample Question for UPSC Sociology Optional Paper:

Question: How does food security impact social stability?
Short Answer: Food security acts as a pillar of social stability by preventing food-related conflicts, violence, and mass migrations. In contrast, food insecurity can ignite social unrest and instability due to issues like rising food prices and unequal access.
Question: Explain the role of technology in addressing food insecurity.
Short Answer: Technology can revolutionize agricultural practices by increasing efficiency and yield. Sensor-equipped irrigation systems, drones, and Low Earth Orbit satellites can contribute to better agricultural outcomes, making food more accessible and affordable.
Question: Discuss the importance of environmental sustainability in food security.
Short Answer: Environmental sustainability in agriculture helps in preserving natural resources and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Unsustainable practices can jeopardize long-term food security by damaging soil, water, and air quality.
Question: How does food security affect national security?
Short Answer: Food security ensures a stable and reliable domestic food supply, independent of external disruptions such as global food prices or geopolitical tensions. A lack of food security can compromise national sovereignty.
Question: Elucidate on the concept of ‘Human Dignity and Equity’ in the context of food security.
Short Answer: Food security upholds human dignity by recognizing food as a fundamental human right. It aims to make food accessible to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, thus promoting social equity.
Question: What are the economic implications of food insecurity?
Short Answer: Food insecurity can lead to decreased productivity, economic instability, and increased poverty, having a long-term adverse impact on a nation’s economic health.
Question: What role does India play in the changing global scenario of food security?
Short Answer: India can contribute through technological innovations in agriculture, increasing investment in agri-R&D, establishing sustainable trading systems, and rethinking its agricultural policies to make them more sustainable and nutrition-focused.
Question: How does climate change exacerbate the challenges of food security?
Short Answer: Climate change affects the availability and quality of essential resources like water and land, alters patterns of pests and diseases, and increases the frequency of extreme weather events, all of which negatively impact food production and supply.
Question: Can you discuss the link between food security and poverty reduction?
Short Answer: Food security enables individuals to afford and access nutritious food, allowing them to also invest in other essential needs like education and healthcare, thereby helping to break the cycle of poverty.
Question: What role does the G20 play in ensuring global food security?
Short Answer: The G20 can provide a platform for global cooperation and policy coordination to address food security challenges, particularly by focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and addressing the impacts of climate change and conflicts on food availability.

Food Security, Global Leadership, Technology, Agricultural Transformation, India, Economic Growth, World Food Programme, Climate Change, Chandrayaan-3, Sustainable Development, Export Bans, Food Inflation, G20, Agri-R&D, Best Sociology Optional Coaching, Sociology Optional Syllabus.

Why Vikash Ranjan’s Classes for Sociology?

Proper guidance and assistance are required to learn the skill of interlinking current happenings with the conventional topics. VIKASH RANJAN SIR at TRIUMPH IAS guides students according to the Recent Trends of UPSC, making him the Best Sociology Teacher for Sociology Optional UPSC.

At Triumph IAS, the Best Sociology Optional Coaching platform, we not only provide the best study material and applied classes for Sociology for IAS but also conduct regular assignments and class tests to assess candidates’ writing skills and understanding of the subject.

Choose The Best Sociology Optional Teacher for IAS Preparation?

At the beginning of the journey for Civil Services Examination preparation, many students face a pivotal decision – selecting their optional subject. Questions such as “which optional subject is the best?” and “which optional subject is the most scoring?” frequently come to mind. Choosing the right optional subject, like choosing the best sociology optional teacher, is a subjective yet vital step that requires a thoughtful decision based on facts. A misstep in this crucial decision can indeed prove disastrous.

Ever since the exam pattern was revamped in 2013, the UPSC has eliminated the need for a second optional subject. Now, candidates have to choose only one optional subject for the UPSC Mains, which has two papers of 250 marks each. One of the compelling choices for many has been the sociology optional. However, it’s strongly advised to decide on your optional subject for mains well ahead of time to get sufficient time to complete the syllabus. After all, most students score similarly in General Studies Papers; it’s the score in the optional subject & essay that contributes significantly to the final selection.

“A sound strategy does not rely solely on the popular
Opinion of toppers or famous YouTubers cum teachers.”

It requires understanding one’s ability, interest, and the relevance of the subject, not just for the exam but also for life in general. Hence, when selecting the best sociology teacher, one must consider the usefulness of sociology optional coaching in General Studies, Essay, and Personality Test.

The choice of the optional subject should be based on objective criteria, such as the nature, scope, and size of the syllabus, uniformity and stability in the question pattern, relevance of the syllabic content in daily life in society, and the availability of study material and guidance. For example, choosing the best sociology optional coaching can ensure access to top-quality study materials and experienced teachers. Always remember, the approach of the UPSC optional subject differs from your academic studies of subjects. Therefore, before settling for sociology optional, you need to analyze the syllabus, previous years’ pattern, subject requirements (be it ideal, visionary, numerical, conceptual theoretical), and your comfort level with the subject.

This decision marks a critical point in your UPSC – CSE journey, potentially determining your success in a career in IAS/Civil Services. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose wisely, whether it’s the optional subject or the best sociology optional teacher. Always base your decision on accurate facts, and never let your emotional biases guide your choices. After all, the search for the best sociology optional coaching is about finding the perfect fit for your unique academic needs and aspirations.

To master these intricacies and fare well in the Sociology Optional Syllabus, aspiring sociologists might benefit from guidance by the Best Sociology Optional Teacher and participation in the Best Sociology Optional Coaching. These avenues provide comprehensive assistance, ensuring a solid understanding of sociology’s diverse methodologies and techniques. Sociology, Social theory, Best Sociology Optional Teacher, Best Sociology Optional Coaching, Sociology Optional Syllabus.
Best Sociology Optional Teacher, Sociology Syllabus, Sociology Optional, Sociology Optional Coaching, Best Sociology Optional Coaching, Best Sociology Teacher, Sociology Course, Sociology Teacher, Sociology Foundation, Sociology Foundation Course, Sociology Optional UPSC, Sociology for IAS,

🔎 https://www.instagram.com/triumphias

🔎 www.triumphias.com

🔎https://www.youtube.com/c/TriumphIAS

https://t.me/VikashRanjanSociology

Find More Blogs

Compare and contrast Karl Marx’s and Max weber’s	Karl Marx- Historical Materialism	Talcott Parsons : Social system	Scope of the subject and comparison with other social sciences
Position of Women In the Modern Indian Society	Sociology: Social system and pattern variables	Changing family structure in India	Modernity and social changes in Europe

India’s Evolving Leadership in Global Food Security Amid Challenges | Sociology UPSC | Triumph IAS