Child malnutrition continues to remain one of the most serious public health concerns in India, particularly in socio-economically vulnerable and tribal-dominated states. The present study examines the spatial pattern of nutritional indicators among children in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand using secondary data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019–2021. The study analyses district-level variations in adequate diet among children aged 6–23 months, stunting, wasting, severe wasting, and underweight conditions among children under five years of age. The paper attempts to identify regional disparities and nutritional hotspots within the two states and interprets the observed patterns through socio-cultural, geographical, and developmental contexts.

The analysis indicates that both states continue to face significant nutritional challenges, although the severity and distribution vary spatially. Jharkhand demonstrates lower levels of adequate dietary intake among infants, while Chhattisgarh exhibits greater concentration of severe wasting and underweight conditions in several districts. Tribal districts in southern Chhattisgarh show comparatively better performance in certain indicators, whereas central and northern districts reveal persistent nutritional vulnerabilities. The study argues that nutritional outcomes are not merely biomedical concerns but are deeply linked with livelihood systems, food practices, accessibility, cultural continuity, poverty, and regional development.