📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Original: Sachinghai09
Derivative work: Radomian
Health
Child Stunting Falls to 31.5% in Uttar Pradesh, NFHS‑6 Shows
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 19 Sep 2026, 04:36 AM
👁 8
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS‑6) reports that the proportion of stunted children under five in Uttar Pradesh has dropped to 31.5%, indicating progress in nutrition.
The latest round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS‑6) has recorded a decline in child stunting in Uttar Pradesh, with the share of children under five who are shorter than the international growth standard falling to 31.5%. This metric, widely used to gauge chronic under‑nutrition, marks a notable improvement over earlier survey cycles.
Stunting reflects long‑term nutritional deficits that affect physical and cognitive development. The NFHS, conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, surveys millions of households across India to track health, nutrition and demographic trends. The Uttar Pradesh figure now aligns more closely with the national average, suggesting that state‑level interventions are beginning to bear fruit.
State authorities have linked the downward trend to intensified implementation of nutrition schemes such as the POSHAN Abhiyaan, supplementary feeding programs in schools, and increased awareness of infant and young child feeding practices. While the reduction is encouraging, experts caution that continued effort is needed to bring the rate below the 30% threshold set by international targets.
Stunting reflects long‑term nutritional deficits that affect physical and cognitive development. The NFHS, conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, surveys millions of households across India to track health, nutrition and demographic trends. The Uttar Pradesh figure now aligns more closely with the national average, suggesting that state‑level interventions are beginning to bear fruit.
State authorities have linked the downward trend to intensified implementation of nutrition schemes such as the POSHAN Abhiyaan, supplementary feeding programs in schools, and increased awareness of infant and young child feeding practices. While the reduction is encouraging, experts caution that continued effort is needed to bring the rate below the 30% threshold set by international targets.