UPSC Mains Answer: 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.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Pre-requisite: Understanding of India’s post-independence economic policies, welfare schemes, and constitutional provisions (e.g., Directive Principles of State Policy). Familiarity with key poverty alleviation programs and their evolution from the 1950s to the present,

Sub-category: Governance, Constitution, and Social Justice (Post-Independence Consolidation)

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Good governance in India is fundamentally challenged by the persistent twin scourges of hunger and poverty, which undermine human dignity and economic progress. Despite constitutional commitments under Article 47 and Directive Principles, successive governments since independence have grappled with these issues through a mix of welfare schemes and economic policies. The Green Revolution in the 1960s addressed food security to some extent, while the 1970s saw the introduction of poverty alleviation programs like the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP). The 1990s economic reforms accelerated growth but also widened inequalities, necessitating targeted interventions such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005 and the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013. These initiatives expanded access to food and employment, reducing poverty rates from over 45% in 1993 to around 10% by 2023, according to the Multidimensional Poverty Index.
However, progress remains uneven. Challenges such as leakages in the Public Distribution System (PDS), inadequate agricultural productivity, and regional disparities persist. Climate change further threatens food security, while informal employment limits income stability. To improve, the government must strengthen last-mile delivery of welfare schemes, invest in climate-resilient agriculture, and promote inclusive growth through skill development and formal job creation. A rights-based approach, coupled with transparent governance and community participation, is essential to eradicate hunger and poverty sustainably.