The year 2023 is being celebrated as International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) globally, under a proposal sponsored by India and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

• India’s proposal to declare 2023 as International Year of Millets was accepted by UNGA on 5th March 2021 with the aim to create awareness and increase production & consumption of millets.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi who led India’s efforts in this regard has the vision to make IYM 2023 a ‘People’s Movement’ alongside positioning India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’. India accounts for almost 80% of Asia’s and 20% of global Millets’ production.
• Being grown in more than 130 countries at present, Millets are considered traditional food for more than half a billion people across Asia and Africa.