Thali has gotten more expensive since 2020—2.3% of Indians can't afford 2 veg meals a day
With the release of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023–24, we now have updated data based on actual household-level expenditure. This allows us to assess food affordability more accurately, not just by price, but by what households are actually able to spend. Using the same methodology and thali composition as outlined in the Economic Survey 2019–20, three key findings emerge.
In the original Thalinomics, the thali components included 300g of cereals (rice and wheat), 150g of vegetables, and 60g of pulses (or meat, egg, or fish for non-vegetarian thalis), based on the 2011 dietary guidelines for Indians by the National Institute of Nutrition. Prices also included cooking oil, fuel (LPG or firewood), and commonly used spices. This provided a consistent, price-based estimate of the cost of a basic, nutritious meal.
The Economic Survey 2019–20 introduced Thalinomics to track food affordability through the cost of a basic plate of food, or thali. It showed that the average price of a vegetarian thali declined between 2015–16 and 2019–20, suggesting improved access to meals across the country.
Also read: Cost of a veg Indian thali has jumped 42% since 2015. That too without curd, tea, and fruits
Thali prices have risen
The original Thalinomics from the Economic Survey 2019-20 estimated a national decline in the price of a vegetarian thali from about Rs 27 in 2015–16 to Rs 24 in 2019–20. In contrast, non-vegetarian thali prices rose steadily over the same period—from around Rs 35 to nearly Rs 38 by 2019–20. Using unit value data from HCES 2023–24, we estimate thali prices for each state. Compared to the national average reported in 2019–20, current prices are significantly higher.
Current rural vegetarian thali prices range from:
Rs 25–Rs 28 in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
Rs 32–Rs 34 in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Rs 45–Rs 51 in Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Current rural non-vegetarian thalis cost:
Rs 33–Rs 36 in UP, Odisha, Bihar
Rs 50–Rs 53 in Mizoram, Puducherry, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
These increases reverse the earlier trend and reflect post-pandemic inflation in food items beyond just cereals.
Compared to the Economic Survey's 2019–20 average of Rs 24 for a veg thali, this represents a significant increase.
Who can afford two meals a day?
To measure affordability, we compare the monthly cost of two thalis per person per day (for 30 days) to the monthly per capita food expenditure reported in HCES. A household is considered food-unaffordable if its per capita expenditure is less than this benchmark.
Key findings:
4.7 per cent of households cannot afford two non-veg meals per day.
cannot afford two non-veg meals per day. 2.3 per cent cannot afford two vegetarian meals.
cannot afford two vegetarian meals. In Jharkhand , these numbers rise to 18 per cent (non-veg) and 11 per cent (veg) . In rural Jharkhand, the non-veg thali unaffordability reaches 20.4 per cent.
, these numbers rise to and . In rural Jharkhand, the non-veg thali unaffordability reaches High unaffordability is also observed in Odisha, Meghalaya, and Manipur.
This indicates that a basic plate of food is still out of reach for many low-income households, particularly in eastern and northeastern states.
This map shows that thali unaffordability is concentrated in eastern, central, and northeastern India—states with lower per capita gross state domestic product and more nutritional vulnerability.
Many underspend on nutrition
Affordability does not imply nutritional adequacy. Many households that can afford two meals a day still spend less than what is required to consume a nutritionally balanced thali, as defined in the Economic Survey's dietary assumptions.
By comparing actual food expenditure to the cost of a 'healthy' thali consumed twice a day, we find:
46 per cent of Indian households spend less than what is needed for a basic, nutritious diet.
spend less than what is needed for a basic, nutritious diet. In states like Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh , this figure exceeds 60 per cent.
, this figure exceeds Even in states like Karnataka and Maharashtra, over 40 per cent of households fall below this nutritional spending threshold.
This highlights the prevalence of nutrient-poor diets, even in households that consume enough calories.
Address affordability
The original Thalinomics highlighted falling food prices. But the updated analysis using HCES 2023–24 suggests that food access remains limited for a significant share of Indian households. Prices have increased, affordability gaps persist, and nutritional under-consumption is widespread.
Food security policy must now go beyond cereals. There is an urgent need to address affordability and access to pulses, vegetables, cooking oils, and fuel, which are central to a balanced diet.
A thali is more than a price tag — it reflects whether citizens can eat adequately, regularly, and with dignity.
The author is Assistant Professor of Economics and Sustainability, IMT Ghaziabad. Views are personal.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
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