Context:

=> State Ranking Index for National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2022 was released by Central government recently.

• In the index, Odisha has emerged as number one state in India.

Odisha’s Ranking:

=> Odisha was ranked first, for bringing resilient food systems in state, in a bid to optimise the delivery of benefits.

=> This announcement was made by Union Food Minister Piyush Goyal during a Food & Nutrition Security Conference of Food ministers.

=> Odisha received an index score of 0.836.

Ranking of other States:

=> Uttar Pradesh has been ranked second, with index score of 0.797.

=> Andhra Pradesh has been third, with score of 0.794.

Assessment Framework for Ranking:

The assessment framework to rank States and Union Territories was prepared on three important pillars. These pillars enfold end-to-end implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) via Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

The three pillars include:

• Coverage, targeting and provisions of the Act
• Delivery platform and
• Nutrition initiatives.

Pillar-based ranking of states:

=> In the first pillar (coverage, targeting and provisions of the Act) Odisha has been ranked at fourth place, with a score of 0.870.

=> Odisha is ranked behind Jharkhand, UP, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu.

=> In “Delivery Platform” pillar, Odisha got fourth place, with a score of 0.790. It has been ranked behind Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Ranking of Special Category States/UTs:

=> Tripura has topped among Special Category States/UTs.

=> It is followed by Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Conference of Food Ministers on Food & Nutrition Security:

The Conference of Food Ministers on Food & Nutrition Security was held on July 5, 2022. On this day in 2013, National Food Security Act (NFSA) came into existence. Conference was organised to celebrate the day. During the conference, discussions were held on food security, nutritional security, crip diversification, best practices & reforms in Public Distribution System and storage sector.