India’s salt iodization programme has a 50 year history and has made remarkable progress towards the achievement of universal salt iodization. A national policy of universal salt iodization was adopted in 1986 and subsequent legislation, both at the national and the state level, prohibits the sale of non-iodized salt for human consumption.1 Sustained efforts to ensure an adequate supply of iodized salt helped India to reach self-sufficiency in its production.2 As a result, in 2009, approximately 71% of households were consuming salt with adequate levels of iodine (i.e. ≥ 15 parts per million).3 However, an average of 249 million Indians, including 8 million children born annually, remain susceptible to iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs). Moreover, the use of adequately iodized salt varies widely by state, from roughly 30% in Chhattisgarh to 98% in Manipur.3 Notably, coverage steadily improves as the household wealth index increases. Hence, the most disadvantaged population groups are the most susceptible to IDDs.3 For this reason, adequately iodized salt needs to be made available and accessible to the poor and most marginalized if the goal of universal salt iodization is to be met in India.