India has the lion's share of malnourished children in the world. Poverty and social exclusion contribute to this rate of malnutrition, but care practices also play a role. Breastfeeding is rarely exclusive, sanitation tends to be limited, complementary feeding often begins late, and the quantities are small. In the past, government programs have focused on the supply of food rather than caring practices. A research agenda will include both operational research on the nutrition programs, and formative and intervention research to improve caring practices, particularly those around infant and young child feeding.