UNICEF Praises India’s ‘Significant Progress’ in Cutting Poverty and Boosting Investment in Children

New Delhi: UNICEF has applauded India for making “significant progress” in reducing poverty and expanding investments in children, according to its State of the World’s Children 2025 report released on Thursday.

The UN agency’s flagship assessment found that over one in five children in low- and middle-income nations — about 400 million globally — face deprivation in at least two essential areas necessary for their health and development. Worldwide, millions of children continue to lack access to basic services including education, clean water, sanitation, housing, health care and adequate nutrition, deepening inequality and slowing long-term growth.

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Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative, said the country’s efforts have placed it on track to meet SDG 1.2 — which targets reducing multidimensional poverty — ahead of the 2030 deadline. “India has made significant progress in poverty reduction, and the flagship programmes have supported investments in children,” she said.

The report highlighted several key government initiatives — including Poshan Abhiyaan, Samagra Shiksha, PM-KISAN, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat and Jal Jeevan Missions — along with India’s digital public infrastructure. Together, these programmes have delivered nutrition, education, income support, sanitation and financial inclusion at scale.

Home to roughly 460 million children, India has made marked improvements in poverty reduction. According to NITI Aayog’s National Multidimensional Poverty Index, 248 million people — including children — moved out of multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23, as the national MPI rate declined from 29.2 per cent to 11.3 per cent.

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Social protection coverage has also expanded significantly, rising from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025, reaching an estimated 940 million citizens. UNICEF noted that sustained investments in social-sector programmes have played a crucial role in India’s progress.

McCaffrey said the findings reinforce that ending child poverty is achievable with existing knowledge and tools. “There is no greater return on investment than investing in children. India’s progress shows that further acceleration of effective programmes can help reach the last mile and advance India’s Vision 2047,” she said, adding that improving children’s wellbeing depends not only on resources but on the collective commitment to prioritise children in every decision.