Regional Differences Pose Challenges for Food Security Policy: A Case Study of India

M<sc>ahadevan</sc> R. and S<sc>uardi</sc> S. Regional differences pose challenges for food security policy: a case study of India, <italic>Regional Studies</italic>. This paper examines factors affecting the calorie gap by considering the risk of calorie inadequacy or excess at the tails of food intakes. Non-linear estimations accounting for rural/urban differences in more and less developed states allow for policy-making on two levels. First, the calorie gap was found to respond differently depending on the calorie status of the individual, to various socio-economic characteristics, social assistance programmes, as well as caste and religion. Second, these impacts depended on rural/urban differences and at other times on the development of the states. These findings pose significant challenges towards achieving a balanced regional food security policy.