New indicator on Minimum Dietary Diversity

Context

A new indicator on Minimum Dietary Diversity has been followed by the United Nations Statistical Commission.

Key Highlights

• FAO and UNICEF share custodianship of the new SDG indicator on Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD).
• MDD indicator addresses a key gap in monitoring progress towards SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and the 2030 Agenda.
• The indicator was followed by the United Nations Statistical Commission during its 56th consultation.
• MDD inclusion is part of the 2025 Comprehensive Review of the SDG indicator framework.

United Nations Statistical Commission

• It was established in 1946.
• It is the highest body of the global statistical system bringing collectively the Chief Statisticians from member states.
• It is the only decision making body for global statistical activities, responsible for putting statistical standards and the development of principles and strategies, including their implementation.

About Indicator on Minimum Dietary Diversity

• MDD-C & MDD-W: The new MDD indicator measures dietary diversity for children (MDD-C) and women of reproductive age (MDD-W).
• Indicator Definition: MDD-W is a simple yes/no measure based on whether women have consumed at least 5 out of 10 described food groups in the past 24 hours.
• 10 Food Groups: Include grains, pulses, nuts, milk, meat, eggs, dark leafy vegetables, vitamin A-rich culmination/greens, different greens, and other culmination.
• Importance of Diversity: Dietary range is critical for stopping malnutrition and assisting overall health, growth, and well-being.
• Focus on Quality: MDD emphasizes the type of foods consumed, not just calorie consumption, highlighting the significance of nutritious diets for health, growth, and well-being.
• FAO & UNICEF Roles: FAO oversees MDD-W, even as UNICEF is accountable for MDD-C.
• Higher MDD Scores: A higher proportion of women meeting MDD thresholds indicates higher vitamin and mineral intake.

Significance

• Quality of Diets: MDD provides an essential measure of nutritional quality to present food security and vitamins signs.
• Dietary Impact: MDD presents a tool for coverage-making, program evaluation, and target-putting, focusing on inclined organizations.
• Critical Step Forward: MDD facilitates tune progress on attaining SDG 2.
• Future Impact: Elevates the significance of dietary variety and food structures transformation, making sure its region in publish-SDG weight-reduction plan monitoring.

India’s Progress in SDG2

• Improvement in normal composite score of Goal 2 transferring from Aspirant category in SDG India Index three (2020-21) to Performer class in the SDG India Index 4 (2023-24)
• 99.01% of beneficiaries covered under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
• Improvement in productivity of rice and wheat from 2995.21 kg/ha in 2018-19 to 3052.25 kg/ha in TE 2021-22.
• Increase in Gross Value Added (GVA) (steady costs) in agriculture per worker from ₹ 0.71 lakhs in 2018-19 to ₹ 0.86 lakhs in 2022-23.

Sustainable Development Goals

• The United Nations General Assembly, all through its 70th Session in 2015, followed the record titled “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” 
• This outlines 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated objectives. 
• The SDGs, also called the Global Goals, came into force from 2016.

Source: The DTE

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of social expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their food-budget. Elucidate. (2019)

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