Has Green Revolution Feed India?
"Green Revolution has feed India" is common conception among Indians. Let us dive on-ground to assess Food Security of India in 21st Century.
Global Hunger Index(GHI) is a renowned study conducted globally to access the conditions of hunger across countries. In 2025, GHI ranked India at 102 out of 123 countries.
GHI score is calculated using four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality.
India's Hunger:
The report states that India's hunger as Serious and more Severe than many African countries.
Undernutrition or Malnutrition refers to a condition where the body doesn't get enough nutrients, either from insufficient food intake or because the body can't properly absorb or utilize the nutrients it receives. Malnutrition is strongly linked to impaired cognitive development. This manifests as delays in motor skills, language, and overall development, with lasting effects on learning and life itself pushing population into vicious circle of poverty.
Stunned Growth is the share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition. Stunted growth leads to impaired development and growth, most commonly used in the context of children. It's a significant indicator of malnutrition and can have long-term consequences, including cognitive and developmental issues. 1 in 3 child of India is stunned.
Child wasting is the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height reflecting acute malnutrition. It is a visible and life-threatening form of malnutrition that weakens the immune system, making children more vulnerable to developmental delays, diseases and death. 1 in 5 Child of India is wasted.
Experts define food security as the availablity of food, economic access to the food and nutritional availability in the food. It says Indians eat enough. But their diet lacks nutrition that are needed for human body. This causes widespread malnutritional across India. Although, India's GDP had increased in past few decades, it has not reflected in hunger eradication. This shows that GDP is not necessarily a measurement of real development.
Scientific evidence shows that hybrid, high-yield seeds were promoted to farmers during Green revolution lack essential nutrients required for the human body. This contrary to to the indigenous food that Indians were eating before Green revolution. This includes Millets, Indigenous pulses, fruits and vegetables. Indians left these food after Green revolution as Government promoted monocropping of rice and wheat. This has lead to widespread food insecurity throughout India causing serious harm to their health and economy of the country.
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Indians eat enough. But, their food does not contain enough nutritions that are essential for the optimal functioning of human body. This is called Nutritional insecurity. This form of Food insecurity is having serious of invisible social and economic implications across the country.
This problem is compounded since after Green revolution since farmers used synthetic chemical toxins in the name of pesticides and herbicides leading to physical and cognitive impairments among population of all classes. This duo causes rise in multiple health and economic issues across the entire country.
Green revolution hasn't reduced the hunger in India rather India now faces unprecedented level of hunger. Sustainable development goal has Zero Hunger by 2030. But, India seems to be travelling in an opposite direction.
All this can be traced back to Green Revolution. Click here to read about,
Hidden Truths about Green Revolution.
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