PM POSHAN (formerly the Mid-Day Meal scheme) serves hot cooked meals every school day to children in government and government-aided schools from Balvatika (pre-primary) to Class 8 — nearly 12 crore children. The meal is a legal entitlement, with defined nutrition norms parents can hold schools to.
Key facts
| Who | Children in Balvatika + Classes 1–8 of govt/govt-aided schools |
| What | Free hot cooked meal every school day |
| Nutrition (primary) | 450 kcal, 12 g protein per meal |
| Nutrition (upper primary) | 700 kcal, 20 g protein per meal |
| Extras | Many states add eggs/milk/fruits; fortified rice supplied |
| Ministry | Education (with states/UTs) |
What parents should know
- The meal is an entitlement, not charity — every enrolled child gets it daily, no fees, no conditions
- Menus are set state-wise and should be displayed at the school
- Tithi Bhojan lets community members sponsor special meals on occasions
- If school is closed for long or meals stop, children are entitled to a food security allowance (grain + cooking cost) in defined situations
Quality safeguards
- Cooking by trained cook-cum-helpers with hygiene norms; kitchen gardens encouraged
- Teachers taste the meal before serving (taste register maintained)
- School Management Committees (with parent members) monitor quality — join yours to have a direct say
- Social audits and toll-free state helplines handle complaints
How to raise a complaint
- First tell the head teacher and the School Management Committee
- Escalate to the block education officer / district nodal officer for PM POSHAN
- Use your state education department helpline or CM helpline portal
- Serious safety issues can also go to the district collector
Norms, menus and state contacts are published on the official site.
Frequently asked questions
Do private-school children get meals?
No — the scheme covers government and government-aided schools (plus certain special training centres and madrasas supported under the scheme).
My child has allergies. Any alternative?
Inform the school; menus are common but schools can generally accommodate substitutions within state norms.
Is there a payment to parents instead of meals?
Only the food security allowance in defined disruption cases — otherwise the entitlement is the cooked meal itself.
Related schemes
Disclaimer: PMYojanaUpdates.com is an independent information portal, not affiliated with any government department. Always verify details on the official site pmposhan.education.gov.in before applying.