Reducing childhood stunting in India: Insights from four subnational success cases

Analyzing four Indian states (Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu), the study decomposes 2006–2016 declines in stunting, finding major contributions from improved coverage of health and nutrition interventions (11–23%), household conditions (22–47%), and maternal factors (15–30%). Strong political–bureaucratic leadership, civil society engagement, and multisectoral program actions (poverty, food security, education, sanitation, health, nutrition) underpinned progress. The authors call for equity-focused, high-intensity, convergent multisectoral action at subnational levels.