Meta-analysis of welfare policy on “food security”: an Indian case (1990–2021)

This paper aims to synthesize the issue of ‘food security’ and also provides a guide-map to the broad field of welfare policy. It is also concerned with a systematic examination of various studies related to food security, dissecting used methodologies, tools of analysis, and advanced thinking, driving the field (welfare policy) forward. In addition, this paper unveils the knowledge gaps regarding the executive focus on ‘food security’ in the shape of welfare policy that requires further exploration after deploying meta-analysis. This advanced statistical method synthesizes the outcomes from manifold independent research in the said field. Side-by-side, it inculcates a massive database of research from reputed sources, ensuring academic recognition and global accessibility. It includes 302 studies from renowned platforms. After following the PSALSAR method, we ultimately chose 143 studies for meta-analysis. Selection criteria: prefixed title, keywords, abstract, peer-reviewed book chapters, and studies on India. The reason for founder year selection is economic reform of India (1990s). The study outcomes give critical acumens into food security as a vital welfare policy, piloted between 1990 and 2021. It reveals a gap in research regarding the India’s food security issue. The current research’s newness is the applied part of the most advanced tools. It recommends that future studies focus on policy-centric research with critical assessment.