Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN)
Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Education and Skill Development Schemes · Topic 5.8
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, renamed PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) in September 2021, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Education that serves one hot cooked meal on school days to children in pre-primary (Bal Vatika) and Classes 1 to 8 of government and government-aided schools. It began as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education on 15 August 1995, and the Supreme Court in 2001 made a cooked meal a legal entitlement. The Cabinet approved PM POSHAN for 2021-22 to 2025-26 with about Rs 1.31 lakh crore, covering about 11.8 crore children. The primary meal norm is 450 kilocalories and 12 grams of protein.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Education and Skill Development Schemes
At a Glance
- Ministry Education
- Started 15 August 1995
- Renamed PM POSHAN, 2021
- Children About 11.8 crore
- Primary norm 450 kcal, 12 g protein
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Education and Skill Development Schemes
Where Does It Fit?
This is the eighth topic of the macro on education and skill development. It links nutrition to schooling and sits between the school scheme and the scholarships described in the next topics. Previous topic: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Next topic: National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme.
What Are the Key Features of the Scheme?
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name and ministry | Mid-Day Meal Scheme, now the National Scheme for PM POSHAN in Schools (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman), serving one hot cooked meal on school days, run by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education |
| History | Started on 15 August 1995 in 2,408 blocks as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, extended to all primary schools by 1997-98 and to upper primary in 2007-08 |
| Supreme Court | In the PUCL versus Union of India case of 2001 the Court directed states to serve cooked meals, and by 2004 hot meals were universal |
| Coverage | Bal Vatika or pre-primary and Classes 1 to 8 in government, government-aided, special training centres and madrasas supported under Samagra Shiksha |
| Nutrition norms | Primary: 450 kcal and 12 g protein. Upper primary: 700 kcal and 20 g protein per child per day |
| Funding | Cost of cooking is shared 60:40 with states, 90:10 for north-eastern and Himalayan states, with foodgrains supplied by the Centre free of cost |
| Outlay | About Rs 1.31 lakh crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26, including the Centre’s share of about Rs 54,061 crore and the states’ share, with foodgrain cost as extra |
How Is the Scheme Run on the Ground?
- Cooking: meals are cooked in school kitchens or supplied by centralised kitchens run by NGOs, with a community cook-cum-helper in each school
- Foodgrains: rice and wheat are lifted from the Food Corporation of India at subsidised or free rates for the scheme
- Tithi Bhojan: a concept where community members donate food to schools on special occasions, which adds variety
- School Nutrition Gardens: kitchen gardens grow vegetables for meals, supported with local help
- Social audit: social audits are done in schools, and Mid-Day Meal Authorities at state level oversee quality
- Health checks: school health and wellness programmes check weight, height and anaemia, and iron and folic acid tablets are linked in many places
- Supplementary nutrition: additional items such as eggs, milk or fruit are given in aspirational districts and areas with a high prevalence of anaemia
- Monitoring: a digital Monitoring System records attendance and meals served, and Parents sometimes join Tasting Committees
What Else Should You Remember?
- Legal base: the National Food Security Act, 2013 makes the meal a legal entitlement for children in the age range, and a meal not served can lead to a food security allowance
- Objectives: to increase enrolment, attendance and retention and to improve nutrition, and to reduce social barriers by seating children of all castes together
- Link to Anganwadi: children under six are served through Anganwadi centres, as in Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
- Link to nutrition mission: PM POSHAN is different from the nutrition mission of the Women and Child Development Ministry, as in POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)
- Link to school scheme: the programme works with the school system, as in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
- Evidence: studies show positive effects on enrolment, attendance and later nutrition and learning, especially for girls and children from poor families
- Breakfast: Tamil Nadu has a breakfast scheme, and in 2025-26 several states asked the Centre to add breakfast
- Parliamentary panel: in March 2026 a Parliamentary Standing Committee reportedly recommended adding breakfast and extending the scheme to Class 10, and the Education Ministry was examining the proposal, with an extra cost of about Rs 6,000 crore a year as estimated
- Status: the 2021-26 approval ended in March 2026 and the next cycle should be checked in current releases, while breakfast has not been confirmed as a national component
- Food safety: incidents of contaminated meals, such as the Chhapra tragedy in Bihar in 2013, led to stricter norms on kitchens and testing
- Corruption and caste: cases of pilferage, weak quality and caste bias in cooking appointments have been reported
- Constitutional link: Article 47 directs the State to raise the level of nutrition, and Article 21A guarantees education for ages 6 to 14
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Start: 15 August 1995
- Court: PUCL case of 2001
- Rename: PM POSHAN in September 2021
- Norms: 450 kcal and 12 g protein for primary; 700 kcal and 20 g for upper primary
- Traps: PM POSHAN is run by Education, and POSHAN Abhiyaan is run by Women and Child Development
As an analytical point, school meals are among the best researched interventions for education and nutrition. Better diet variety, safe kitchens and a possible breakfast could raise their value, but they need predictable funds and local monitoring.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Facts Dates, norms, ministry
- Policy Nutrition and education
- Mains Quality and breakfast
What Came Next?
The next topic covers a merit scholarship for students. Next topic: National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme.
Key People and Terms
- MDM Mid-Day Meal
- PM POSHAN New name
- Bal Vatika Pre-primary class
- Tithi Bhojan Community meal donation
- NFSA Food security law
- PUCL Right to food litigant
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Started: 15 August 1995.
- Court: 2001, PUCL.
- Renamed: 2021, PM POSHAN.
- Primary: 450 kcal, 12 g.
- Ministry: Education.
Do Not Confuse With
- PM POSHAN and POSHAN Abhiyaan School meal scheme versus the national nutrition mission
- PM POSHAN and Anganwadi supplementary nutrition Children aged 6 to 14 versus children under six
- Mid-day meal and take-home ration Hot meal in school versus ration taken home
Memory Hook
Hot meal, small plate, big gain: from 1995 to PM POSHAN.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about links between nutrition and education. These points give a frame.
- Gains Enrolment, nutrition, equity
- Gaps Quality and safety
- Way Breakfast and diversity
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the objectives and achievements of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the challenges to improving its quality.”
How to Answer
- Intro State the 1995 start and PM POSHAN.
- Gains Enrolment, attendance, nutrition, equity.
- Challenges Quality, safety, funds, corruption.
- Way Breakfast, local foods, audits, tech.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme or PM POSHAN?
PM POSHAN is the Centrally Sponsored scheme of the Ministry of Education, earlier called the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, that serves a hot cooked meal on school days to children in pre-primary and Classes 1 to 8 in government and aided schools, to improve nutrition, enrolment and attendance.
When was the Mid-Day Meal Scheme launched and renamed?
The scheme began on 15 August 1995 as the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education. The Supreme Court made cooked meals compulsory in 2001, and in September 2021 the Cabinet renamed it PM POSHAN, approving it for 2021-22 to 2025-26.
What are the nutrition norms under PM POSHAN?
For primary classes the meal must give 450 kilocalories of energy and 12 grams of protein per child per day. For upper primary classes the norm is 700 kilocalories and 20 grams of protein. The scheme also promotes eggs, milk, fruit and local vegetables where possible.
Is the mid-day meal a legal right?
Yes. The Supreme Court order of 2001 in the PUCL case made a cooked meal a legal entitlement, and the National Food Security Act, 2013 gives statutory backing to meals for children in the age group. If a meal is not served, states are expected to pay a food security allowance.
What is the latest status of PM POSHAN?
PM POSHAN was approved for 2021-22 to 2025-26 with about Rs 1.31 lakh crore, covering about 11.8 crore children. In March 2026 a Parliamentary committee reportedly recommended adding breakfast and extending it to Class 10, but sources reviewed show no final national approval, so check current releases.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Mid-Day Meal Scheme was started on 15 August 1995.
As a national programme.
2 PM POSHAN is run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
It is run by the Ministry of Education.
3 A cooked meal in schools was made a legal entitlement by the Supreme Court in 2001.
In the PUCL case.
4 The primary school meal norm is 450 kilocalories and 12 grams of protein.
Upper primary is 700 and 20.
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