What is ICMR-NIN?

Why ICMR-NIN matters

Much of the official nutrition advice you'll hear in India traces back to ICMR-NIN.

What it does:

• sets the Recommended Dietary Allowances and Estimated Average Requirements for Indians
• publishes the Dietary Guidelines for Indians (2024)
• produces the Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT 2017) that dietitians use to work out what's in your dal, roti and sabzi

Its expert group found that Indians tend to have relatively more body fat and a lower resting energy use than international formulas predict, which is why its numbers fit Indian adults better than Western ones.

Using ICMR-NIN's guidance at home

You can use ICMR-NIN's work directly at home. Its dietary guidelines and 'My Plate for the Day' show how to balance grains, pulses, vegetables, fruit, milk and nuts across a day.

It also:

• runs national nutrition surveys
• publishes the 'What India Eats' report

When you come across a claim about Indian food on social media, checking it against ICMR-NIN material is a good habit.