UNICEF India Representative Cynthia McCaffrey states that while India’s child-focused policies are significantly improving well-being and reducing poverty, more robust and ongoing social sector investment is necessary to ensure long-term gains for the nation’s 460 million children. More than 400 million children in low- and middle-income countries suffer from deprivations in at least two critical areas—health, nutrition, education, clean water, sanitation, and housing—according to UNICEF’s most recent report, State of the World’s Children 2025, which was released in honor of World Children’s Day. The report noted that despite global progress, millions of children still lack access to basic services, fueling inequality and limiting opportunities across generations.
The paper states that as environmental and economic pressures increase globally, the youngest children, children with disabilities, and children growing up in conflict or climatic disasters are most at danger. In the meantime, India was cited as a worldwide model of swift poverty alleviation. Between 2013–14 and 2022–2023, 248 million people were lifted out of multidimensional poverty by India’s flagship programs and increased social security coverage, which McCaffrey credited with lowering the National Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) rate from 29.2% to 11.3%.
