What is the common examiner trap about Economy in UPSC exams?

They may ask about the percentage of population unable to afford a healthy diet based on raw food cost (25-49%) versus the cost including fuel (32-62%), swapping these two ranges to confuse candidates.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Economy for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: Cost of Healthy Diet (CoHD) is Rs 73.1 per person/day (2023-24). 2. Target this Nodal Body: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) sets the dietary guidelines. 3. Target this Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for LPG access.

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News 25 of 29

LPG Price Shock from West Asia War Raises Cost of Healthy Diet to Rs 82.6, Affecting 32-62% of Population

Q: Which organization sets the food-based dietary guidelines used to calculate the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) in India?

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), The article explicitly states that the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) is calculated to meet the ICMR's food-based dietary guidelines. The ICMR is the apex body for biomedical research and standard-setting in nutrition.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the impact of the LPG crisis discussed in the article: 1. The crisis has led to a reduction in output of small industries reliant on LPG and reports of migrant workers returning to villages. 2. According to HCES 2023-24, fuel and light constitute a higher share of monthly per capita expenditure in urban areas compared to rural areas. 3. The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) increases by approximately Rs 9.5 when costs beyond raw food, like fuel, are accounted for. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Both 1 and 3, Statement 1 is correct as mentioned in the article. Statement 2 is incorrect; the article states fuel and light constitute 6.1% in rural and 5.6% in urban areas, meaning the share is higher in rural areas. Statement 3 is correct as the article specifies the CoHD increases by about Rs 9.5, with Rs 6.5 from fuel.

Q: According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 data cited in the article, what is the estimated national average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) for a non-vegetarian diet per person per day?

Rs 73.1, The article explicitly states: "We estimate the national average CoHD for a non-vegetarian diet at Rs 73.1 per person per day in 2023-24." Rs 82.6 is the cost after adding fuel and other preparation costs.

Q: What is the primary reason, as argued in the article, for expanding the focus of nutrition policy to a 'food systems approach'?

To integrate factors like cooking fuel access and social safety nets which ultimately determine what people eat., The article concludes that a 'food systems approach' is needed because dietary outcomes are determined by a combination of factors including access to cooking fuel, coverage of social safety nets, and intra-household dynamics, not just food availability or prices.

Economy Social Issues AgricultureSUPPORT

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link

10 Apr 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:Fuel expenditure: 6.1% rural, 5.6% urbanCoHD: Rs 73.1 per person/dayCoHD increase due to fuel: Rs 9.5Population unable to afford diet: 32-62%

Bodies:ICMR

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.The LPG supply disruption from the West Asia war is causing price hikes and panic buying, directly impacting meal preparation costs and food inflation.

2.The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) rises from Rs 73.1 to Rs 82.6 per person per day when fuel costs are included, affecting 32-62% of the population.

3.Examiners may link this crisis to food security, social safety nets (PMUY), and the multi-dimensional 'food systems approach' needed for nutrition policy.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The West Asia war-induced LPG crisis is making nutritious food unaffordable for millions in India. Data from the 2023-24 Household Consumption Expenditure Survey shows the cost of a healthy diet rises by Rs 9.5 when fuel costs are included, pushing 32-62% of the population out of reach. This highlights the critical link between energy security, food inflation, and nutrition security.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Fuel Share in Expenditure (Rural)6.1% (HCES 2023-24)

Fuel Share in Expenditure (Urban)5.6% (HCES 2023-24)

Cost of Healthy Diet (Non-Veg)Rs 73.1 per person/day

CoHD Increase due to FuelRs 9.5 (Rs 6.5 from fuel)

Unaffordable Diet (With Fuel)32-62% of population

1-Minute Revision

›Fuel Share in Expenditure (Rural): 6.1% (HCES 2023-24)
›Fuel Share in Expenditure (Urban): 5.6% (HCES 2023-24)
›Target this Data: Cost of Healthy Diet (CoHD) is Rs 73.1 per person/day (2023-24).
›Target this Nodal Body: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) sets the dietary guidelines.
›Target this Scheme: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for LPG access.

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News Snapshot

⚔️

Geopolitical Trigger

The ongoing war in West Asia has disrupted LPG supplies to India, leading to higher prices, panic buying, and black-marketing.

🍲

Nutritional Impact

Rising cooking fuel costs increase the overall Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) by Rs 9.5, making it unaffordable for a larger section of the population.

🛡️

Policy Response

The government has prioritized domestic LPG supply and experts call for expanding social safety nets and adopting a holistic 'food systems approach'.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

India's heavy dependence on LPG imports makes it vulnerable to global supply shocks, as seen during the West Asia war. This crisis mirrors the supply chain disruptions of the Covid era, with migrant workers reportedly returning to villages. The government's immediate response has been to prioritize domestic cylinders over industrial and commercial use, a standard crisis management tactic.

Core Analysis & Implications

The crisis exposes the multi-layered threat to nutrition security. First, direct meal preparation costs rise. Second, knock-on effects include increased cultivation costs due to disrupted fertiliser supply chains and rising transportation costs, risking broader food inflation. The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 data quantifies this: fuel costs add Rs 6.5 to the daily CoHD, significantly expanding the population unable to afford a nutritious diet from 25-49% to 32-62%.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Short-term measures include expanding social safety nets to subsidise nutritious foods (pulses, vegetables, eggs) and ensuring schemes like PMUY (Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yolana) cover migrant populations. Long-term solutions require agriculture policies that enhance the availability of nutritious foods and a fundamental shift to a 'food systems approach' in policy-making, which integrates factors like fuel access, social protection, and intra-household dynamics.

Key Facts at a Glance

Fuel Share in Expenditure (Rural)6.1% (HCES 2023-24)

Fuel Share in Expenditure (Urban)5.6% (HCES 2023-24)

Cost of Healthy Diet (Non-Veg)Rs 73.1 per person/day

CoHD Increase due to FuelRs 9.5 (Rs 6.5 from fuel)

Unaffordable Diet (With Fuel)32-62% of population

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Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, State PSC

Which organization sets the food-based dietary guidelines used to calculate the Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) in India?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, SSC

Consider the following statements regarding the impact of the LPG crisis discussed in the article:

1. The crisis has led to a reduction in output of small industries reliant on LPG and reports of migrant workers returning to villages.

2. According to HCES 2023-24, fuel and light constitute a higher share of monthly per capita expenditure in urban areas compared to rural areas.

3. The Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) increases by approximately Rs 9.5 when costs beyond raw food, like fuel, are accounted for.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, SSC, Banking

According to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 data cited in the article, what is the estimated national average Cost of a Healthy Diet (CoHD) for a non-vegetarian diet per person per day?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, State PSC

What is the primary reason, as argued in the article, for expanding the focus of nutrition policy to a 'food systems approach'?

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LPG Price Shock from West Asia War Raises Cost of Healthy Diet to Rs 82.6, Affecting 32-62% of Population

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Geopolitical Trigger

Nutritional Impact

Policy Response

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance