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ActiveCentral Sector SchemeLaunched 1995-08-15Verified: 2026-09-16

Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN / Mid-Day Meal Scheme)

National school nutrition programme providing free nutritious hot cooked meals to primary and upper-primary children in government and aided schools.

Government Levelcentral Government
Administering BodyMinistry of Education
Beneficiary Sector
Women & Child DevelopmentEducation & Learning
Applicable Jurisdiction
All India

₹Benefits & Entitlement Breakdown

Provision of one hot cooked meal every school day (at least 200 school days per year) to children studying in Balvatikas (pre-primary), Classes I to V (Primary), and Classes VI to VIII (Upper Primary) in government, local body, and government-aided schools. Primary (Classes I-V): Minimum 450 calories and 12 grams of protein per child per day (100 grams of foodgrains). Upper Primary (Classes VI-VIII): Minimum 700 calories and 20 grams of protein per child per day (150 grams of foodgrains). Includes fortified rice with iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12.

📊Budget Allocation & Beneficiary Reach

Fiscal Budget Allocation

₹12,467 Crore (Union Budget FY 2024-25 allocation for PM-POSHAN)

Official Budget Document ↗
Verified Beneficiary Reach

11.8+ Crore schoolchildren covered across 11.2+ Lakh schools nationwide

As of: 2024-03-31PIB / Official Citation ↗

Verified Eligibility Criteria

Age Requirement:5 to 14 years
Annual Family Income Ceiling:No gross income ceiling specified
Target Occupations:student
Eligible Gender:all
Social Category / Reservation:all
Specific Operational Conditions & Exclusions:

Child must be enrolled and attending Class I to VIII (or pre-primary Balvatika) in any Government, Local Body, Government-aided school, Special Training Centre (STC), or Madarsa/Maqtab supported under Samagra Shiksha. No income or caste discrimination permitted.

Required Documents Checklist

  • ✓
    School Admission / Student Enrollment RecordMandatory

    Establishing attendance in eligible government or aided school.

  • ✓
    Student Aadhaar Number / APAAR IDOptional / Supporting

    For digital record linkage; no child can be denied meal for lack of Aadhaar.

How to Apply

1. Enrollment is automatic upon admission into an eligible government or government-aided school. 2. School Headmaster / Mid-Day Meal in-charge logs daily attendance on the PM-POSHAN Automated Monitoring System (AMS) via SMS or mobile app. 3. Food Corporation of India (FCI) supplies foodgrains, and state nodal departments disburse cooking cost directly to School Management Committee (SMC) bank accounts via DBT.

Official Government Application Portal

You will be redirected to the secure official portal: pmposhan.education.gov.in

Apply on official government website

Frequently Asked Questions (Officially Sourced)

Verified answers sourced directly from official circulars, gazettes, and portal FAQs. Never AI-invented.

Can a student be denied mid-day meals if they do not have an Aadhaar card?

No. As per Ministry guidelines and Supreme Court directions, no child can be denied their entitlement to a hot cooked meal for want of an Aadhaar number.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

What nutritional norms must be satisfied for upper-primary meals?

Meals for upper-primary classes (VI-VIII) must provide at least 700 calories of energy and 20 grams of protein, including 150 grams of foodgrains, 30 grams of pulses, and 75 grams of vegetables.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

What is Tithi Bhojan under PM-POSHAN?

Tithi Bhojan is a community participation concept where local community members provide food, sweets, fruits, or nutritional accompaniments to schoolchildren on special occasions like birthdays, festivals, and anniversaries.

Source: Official Scheme FAQ ↗

Common Rejection Reasons & Warnings

Not applicable; entitlement is universal for all enrolled students in covered schools.

Editorial Verification & Change Log

DateFieldDescription / UpdateSource Citation
2026-09-16initial_verificationBaseline verification of PM-POSHAN nutritional standards, fortified foodgrains, and universal school feeding guidelines.Official Source ↗

Application Window & Deadlines

Automatic entitlement during active academic year school days

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Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

Direct benefit maternity benefit scheme under Mission Shakti offering cash incentives up to ₹6,000 for pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Official Helpline & Nodal Offices

Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education

Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi - 110001

Helpline: 011-23383872 / 1800-111-969 (National Education Helpdesk)

Jurisdiction: National (All-India)

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Verification Metadata

Last verified by Eligo researchers on 2026-09-16 against official government documentation.

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