Poshan Tracker data shows persistent malnutrition among children
Central, eastern states worst affected
New Delhi: As of June 2025, 5.46% of children under five in India were found to be wasted (low weight for height), and 15.93% were underweight (low weight for age), according to the latest Poshan Tracker data.
The data, cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, showed that among children aged 0–6 years, the underweight prevalence stood at 16.50%.
The figures underscore significant regional disparities in child malnutrition across the country. Bihar leads with some of the highest rates, recording 20.98% underweight and 9.31% wasting. Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand also report high figures, with 24.82% and 19.13% of children respectively being underweight, while wasting in these states stands at 8.19% and 6.68%. Other states with high malnutrition burdens include Tripura, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, where underweight rates range from 17% to nearly 20%.
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep stands out for its alarming statistics, with 22.54% of children underweight and 11.62% wasted, the highest in the country.
Despite the government’s efforts through initiatives like Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the data reveals persistent challenges, especially in central and eastern states. However, there are notable success stories where effective interventions have led to improvements.
Goa emerged as a standout performer, with only 0.78% of children being wasted and 1.96% underweight. Other states, including Sikkim (1.95% wasting, 1.69% underweight), Manipur (0.67% wasting, 2.69% underweight), and Himachal Pradesh (2.41% wasting, 6.88% underweight), also recorded low malnutrition rates.
Southern states, while performing relatively better, still face challenges. Tamil Nadu stood out with a low 3.54% wasting and 6.29% underweight children, far below the national averages. Kerala also reported encouraging figures with 3.20% wasting, though the underweight figure was higher at 10.18%. Karnataka, on the other hand, showed moderate progress with 3.18% wasting, but underweight children accounted for 16.50%. Andhra Pradesh reported 4.97% wasting and 7.68% underweight, while Telangana had 5.93% wasting and 17% underweight.
The Poshan Tracker data represents an improvement from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21), which recorded 32.1% underweight and 19.3% wasting among children under five. However, the current data also highlights a critical gap: of the projected 16.1 crore children under six, only 8.61 crore are currently enrolled in Anganwadi services, underscoring the need for expanded coverage and deeper outreach to address the nutrition crisis.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
