India's rank in GHI falls from 94th in 2020 to 101st in 2021, Pakistan & Bangladesh fare better

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021 has ranked India 101st out of 116 countries. As per the 2021 rankings, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal have fared better than India.

In 2020, India was ranked 94th out of 107 countries. Now with 116 countries in the list, it has dropped to 101st rank. India's GHI score has also decelerated - from 38.8 in 2000 to the range of 28.8 - 27.5 between 2012 and 2021.

Though neighbouring countries like Nepal (76), Bangladesh (76), Myanmar (71) and Pakistan (92) have fared better at feeding its citizens than India, these countries have been put under the 'alarming' hunger category, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the country's poor ranking. Congress leader took to his social media handle to post a tweet mocking the claims of the government on eradicating poverty, hunger, and also on making Indian a global power.

"Congratulations Modi ji for eradicating : 1) poverty 2) hunger 3) making India a global power 4) for our digital economy 5) …………… so much more. Global Hunger Index : 2020 : India ranked 94, 2021 : India ranks 101. Behind Bangladesh, Pakistan & Nepal," he tweeted.

GHI scores are calculated on four parameters — undernourishment, child wasting (percentage of children below five years of age who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition), child stunting (percentage of children below five years of age who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition) and child mortality (the mortality rate of children under the age of five).

The 2021 report was prepared by Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and German organisation Welt Hunger Hilfe.