PM POSHAN, formerly the Mid Day Meal Scheme
Ministry of Education
PM POSHAN, formerly the Mid Day Meal Scheme, gives a free hot cooked meal daily to children in Classes I to VIII in government and government aided schools, ensuring at least 450 calories for primary and 700 calories for upper primary students, covering about 11.8 crore children.
Key facts
- Nodal ministry
- Ministry of Education
- Level
- Central and State
- Launched
- 2021, renamed from the Mid Day Meal Scheme launched in 1995
- Last date
- Open all year, approved for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
What you get
One hot cooked meal daily to school children, ensuring at least 450 calories and 12 grams of protein for Classes I to V and 700 calories and 20 grams of protein for Classes VI to VIII, covering roughly 11.8 crore children, and extended to pre-primary Balvatika children.
Who is eligible
Children studying in Classes I to VIII, and pre-primary or Balvatika, in government and government aided schools.
Documents you need
School enrolment records. No individual application is needed by parents.
How to apply
No individual application is needed. Schools implement the scheme automatically, procuring and preparing meals per approved menus, tracked through the PM POSHAN app.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for PM POSHAN meals?
Children studying in Classes I to VIII, and pre-primary or Balvatika, in government and government aided schools.
What are the calorie norms under PM POSHAN?
At least 450 calories and 12 grams of protein for Classes I to V, and 700 calories and 20 grams of protein for Classes VI to VIII.
Do parents need to apply for PM POSHAN?
No, there is no individual application. Schools implement the scheme automatically for enrolled students.
How many children does PM POSHAN cover?
The scheme covers roughly 11.8 crore children across about 11.2 lakh schools.
Which ministry runs PM POSHAN?
The Ministry of Education runs PM POSHAN, approved for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.