Relevance for Banking, SSC & RBI Grade B exams: Economy/Governance
Global hunger levels eased for the third consecutive year in 2025, with 7.8% of the global population—approximately 645 million people—facing hunger, down from 8.1% in 2024 and 8.6% in 2022, according to the UN’s *State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026* (SOFI 2026). The report, released by five UN agencies, highlights that while progress is fragile and uneven, it demonstrates that targeted interventions can yield results. However, regional disparities persist, with Africa accounting for the highest absolute number of hungry people (309 million) despite a slight stabilization in hunger rates. For banking and SSC aspirants, this underscores the importance of inclusive economic policies, rural development, and gender-sensitive interventions in poverty alleviation, themes often tested in exams like RBI Grade B’s Economic and Social Issues section. The report’s emphasis on food insecurity metrics (25.8% of the global population in 2025) and its link to inflation, conflict, and climate shocks also aligns with current affairs questions on supply chain vulnerabilities and sustainable development goals.
The SOFI 2026 report further examines the rising cost of healthy diets, which reached 4.28 PPP dollars per person per day in 2025—up from 2.94 PPP dollars in 2017—posing a significant barrier to achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). This is particularly relevant for RBI Grade B and banking exams, where candidates are expected to understand the interplay between food prices, inflation, and monetary policy. The report’s projections on hunger in conflict zones like the Middle East, compounded by weather extremes and reduced humanitarian aid, highlight geopolitical risks to food security, a topic frequently discussed in governance sections of SSC and banking exams. Additionally, the slow progress on nutrition targets—such as child stunting (150 million children affected) and rising adult obesity—reflects broader challenges in public health governance, making this report a critical resource for exam preparation.
Source: who.int
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