India Ahead Of Neighbours In Egg Intake, But Still Lags Global Average
New Delhi:
"Sunday ho ya Monday, roz khao ande" (Whether it's Sunday or Monday, eat eggs every day) - you've probably heard this catchy line from a once-famous advertisement. The campaign aimed to promote the inclusion of eggs in the Indian diet. But beyond the jingle, has the message really translated into action?
Let's look at the data to find out.
India's egg journey: A look through the decades
An analysis of egg consumption trends from 1961 to 2022, sourced from 'Our World in Data', offers some fascinating insights. Between 1961 and 1976, Indians consumed more eggs per capita than Pakistanis. In 1977, both nations were in a neck-and-neck race. The very next year, Pakistan pulled ahead and retained its lead for over three decades, until 2013.
From 2014 to 2017, the per capita egg intake in India and Pakistan remained roughly equal. Then came the big change - in 2018, India overtook Pakistan in annual per capita egg consumption and has maintained its lead since.
By 2022, Indians were consuming 4.6 kilograms (shell weight) of eggs per person annually, compared to 3.7 kg in Pakistan.
India ahead of all neighbours
India's egg consumption outpaces not just Pakistan, but also Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
In 2022, Bangladesh recorded 3.6 kg per capita, Sri Lanka stood at 3.7 kg, and Nepal lagged far behind at just 2 kg.
Experts link India's upward trend to rising incomes, better access to food, and increasing awareness about the importance of dietary protein. Yet, despite these improvements, the global comparison tells a different story.
While India leads South Asia in egg intake, it still consumes less than half the global average. In 2022, global per capita egg consumption was 10.4 kilograms - more than twice India's 4.6 kg. The gap suggests that despite progress, India has significant ground to cover in aligning with global nutritional standards.
What does India's household food spending tell us?
To understand dietary choices better, it helps to look at where Indian households are spending their food budgets.
As per the Ministry of Statistics (2023-24), the monthly per capita food expenditure is Rs 1,939 in rural areas and Rs 2,776 in urban areas. Rural households spend about 47% of their total monthly consumption on food, while urban households spend around 40%.
Interestingly, beverages, snacks, and processed foods top the food expenditure list. Urban Indians allocate 11.1 per cent and rural Indians 9.8 per cent of their total monthly spending on items like soft drinks, chips, and ready-to-eat foods. Milk and dairy products come next: 7.2 per cent of urban and 8.4 per cent of rural monthly consumption goes here. Vegetables are prioritised over cereals in both segments. Urban residents spend 4.1 per cent on vegetables and 3.8 per cent on cereals; rural areas show a similar pattern with 6 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively.
Egg consumption in India is rising and outpacing neighbouring countries, thanks to improved awareness and affordability. But a glance at food expenditure patterns reveals a growing preference for processed foods, too. The trend needs careful examination.
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The Santhal rebellion or 'Hul' – literally, revolution – began in 1855, two years before the the uprising of 1857, often referred to as 'the first war for Indian independence'. 2. It was an 'organised war against colonialism' led by the Santhals, standing against the myriad forms of oppression – economic and otherwise – they were subjected to by the British and their collaborator zamindars and corrupt moneylenders. 3. Led by two brothers, Sidhu and Kanhu, it saw the participation of as many as 32 castes and communities rallying behind them. 4. The seeds of the Santhal rebellion, however, were sown in 1832 when the East India Company created the Damin-i-Koh region in the forested belt of the Rajmahal hills. The area was allocated to the Santhals displaced from Birbhum, Murshidabad, Bhagalpur, Barabhum, Manbhum, Palamau, and Chhotanagpur, all areas the Bengal Presidency. 5. 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So the idea of 'Hul' rebellion did not die down with its suppression.' 1. The Santhals were not the original inhabitants of modern day Santhal Pargana – which includes the six districts of Dumka, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj, Deoghar and parts of Jamtara. They had migrated from the Birbhum and Manbhum regions (present-day Bengal), starting around the late 18th century. 2. The 1770 famine in Bengal caused the Santhals to begin moving and soon, the British turned to them for help. With the enactment of the Permanent Settlement Act of 1790, the East India Company was desperate to bring an ever-increasing area in its control under settled agriculture. They, thus, chose the area of Damin-i-Koh, at the time heavily forested, to be settled by the Santals, in order to collect a steady stream of revenue. However, once settled, the Santals bore the brunt of colonial oppression. 3. Today, the Santal community is the third largest tribal community in India, spread across Jharkhand-Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal. 📌Munda Rebellion: Birsa Munda launched the Ulgulan movement (Munda rebellion) in 1899, using weapons and guerrilla warfare to drive out foreigners. He encouraged the tribals to follow the Birsa Raj and not comply with colonial laws and rent payments. It was one of the most organised and widespread tribal revolts, with clear objectives: to overthrow the British government, expel outsiders from the region, and establish an independent Munda state. Known as 'Dharti Aba' ('Father of the Earth'), Birsa Munda organised the 'Ulgulan' or the Munda Rebellion against British oppression in the late 1890s. November 15, the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, is celebrated as 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas' to honour the contributions of the tribal freedom fighters. — However, the British were soon able to halt the movement through the superior strength of their forces. On March 3, 1900, Munda was arrested by the British police while he was sleeping along with his tribal guerilla army at the Jamkopai forest in Chakradharpur. — The movement contributed to the government's repeal of the begar system and led to the Tenancy Act (1903) which recognised the khuntkhatti system. The Chotanagpur Tenancy Act (1908) later banned the passage of tribal land to non-tribal folks. 📌Paika Rebellion: In several recent descriptions, the 1817 Paika Rebellion in Odisha's Khurda is referred to as the 'original' first war of Indian Independence. That year, the Paikas – a class of military retainers traditionally recruited by the kings of Odisha – revolted against the British colonial rulers mainly over being dispossessed of their land holdings. —In the run-up to the revolt, the British had dethroned and exiled the Khurda king in 1803, and then started introducing new revenue settlements. For Paikas, who were into rendering martial services in return for hereditary rent-free land (nish-kar jagirs) and titles, this disruption meant losing both their estates and social standing. —The trigger for the revolt came as some 400 Kondhs descended from the Ghumusar area to rise against the British. Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bharamarbar Rai, the highest-ranking military general of the banished Khurda king, led an army of Paikas to join the uprising of the Kondhs. —Over the next few months, the Paikas fought bloody battles at several places, but the colonial army gradually crushed the revolt. 📌Kol Revolt: The Kols, tribal people from the Chhota Nagpur area, rose in revolt against the British in 1831. The trigger here too was the gradual takeover of tribal land and property by non-tribal settlers who were aided by new land laws. The simmering discontent over the economic exploitation of the original inhabitants led to an uprising led by Buddhu Bhagat, Joa Bhagat, and Madara Mahato among others. The Kols were joined by other tribes like the Hos, Mundas, and Oraons. —The tribals fought with traditional weapons taking the battle to colonial forces who finally overpowered them with modern weaponry. The uprising, which spread to areas like Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Palamau, Manbhum and continued for almost two years before being snuffed out, mainly targeted colonial officials and private money-lenders. 📌Bhil uprising: After the British intruded into the Bhil territory in Maharashtra's Khandesh region, the tribals pushed back fearing exploitation under the new regime in 1818. The revolt was led by their leader, Sewaram and was brutally crushed using the British military might. —This uprising again erupted in 1825 as the Bhils sought to take advantage of reverses being suffered by the British in the first Anglo-Burmese war. 📌Dhal Revolt: The first tribal revolt during British rule in Jharkhand was the Dhal Revolt in 1767, led by Jagannath Dhal, the former king of Dhalbhum, a part of West Bengal today. —Triggered by the presence of the British East India Company that marginalised the local population, this revolt lasted 10 years. In response to the ongoing unrest, the British reinstated Jagannath Dhal as the ruler of Dhalbhum in 1777. 📌 Tana Bhagat Movement: It began in 1914 by Jatra Bhagat, a leader of the Oraon tribe. He called for a return to traditional practices, rejecting colonial rule and Western influences. Bhagat highlighted agrarian issues and initiated a no-rent campaign, urging labourers to refuse forced or low-wage work. (1) After the Santhal Uprising subsided, what were the measures taken by the colonial government? (UPSC CSE 2018) 1. The territories called 'Santhal Parganas' were created. 2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non-Santhal. Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (2) With reference to the history of India, 'Ulgulan' or 'the Great Tumult' is led by? (UPSC CSE 2020) (a) Bakshi Jagabandhu (b) Alluri Sitaramaraju (c) Sidhu & Kanhu Murmu (d) Birsa Munda (3) With reference to the Santhal Rebellion, consider the following statements: 1. It was an organised war against colonialism. 2. The rebellion was led by two brothers Sidhu and Kanhu. 3. The rebellion took place in the Damin-i-Koh region. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None (Sources: Hul Diwas: Remembering the Santal rebellion against the British, Birsa Munda's enduring legacy, Life, legend of tribal icon Birsa Munda, Explained: Four tribal revolts President Murmu invoked in her inaugural speech) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
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