India, Jan. 25 -- Despite economic growth and policy efforts, Indian households continue to spend more on tobacco than on essential nutrition, highlighting a persistent public health issue.

The trend, rooted in cultural norms and labor conditions, shows that rising incomes have not led to healthier choices, with tobacco consumption crowding out spending on nutritious foods.

Indian households continue to spend more on tobacco and intoxicants than on nutritionally essential food items such as pulses and fruits, underscoring a persistent public health failure that has survived economic growth, repeated tax hikes and decades of regulation.

Data from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office...