PM Poshan Scheme: Complete Guide to India’s School Meal Programme (2026)
It is essentially the renamed and expanded version of the National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools, popularly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. The core purpose of PM Poshan Scheme is twofold: improve the nutritional status of school-going children, and encourage regular school attendance among children from economically weaker sections.
The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, and jointly funded by the Centre and the State/UT governments.
PM Poshan Scheme: Quick Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) |
| Formerly known as | National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools (Mid-Day Meal Scheme) |
| Mid-Day Meal Scheme launched | 1995 |
| PM Poshan Scheme approved/renamed | 29 September 2021 |
| PM Poshan Scheme year | 2021 (current cycle: 2021–22 to 2025–26) |
| Implementing ministry | Ministry of Education, Department of School Education & Literacy |
| Type of scheme | Centrally Sponsored Scheme |
| Coverage | Balvatika (pre-primary) + Classes 1 to 8 |
| Beneficiaries | Approx. 11.2 crore children in about 11.2 lakh schools |
| Funding pattern | 60:40 (Centre:State) in most states; 90:10 in NE/Himalayan states & J&K; 100% Centre in UTs without legislature |
| Total approved outlay (2021–22 to 2025–26) | ₹1,30,794.90 crore |
| Central budget allocation (2026–27) | Approx. ₹12,750 crore |
| Official website | pmposhan.education.gov.in |
History and Launch Date of PM Poshan Scheme
This is where most of the confusion around “when PM Poshan Scheme started” comes from, because there are actually two dates involved:
So, when people search “PM Poshan Scheme launch date,” “when was PM Poshan Scheme launched,” or “PM Poshan Scheme started in which year,” the accurate answer depends on what’s being asked:
If the question is about the Mid-Day Meal Scheme’s original launch, the answer is 1995.
If the question is about PM Poshan Scheme specifically (the renamed, expanded scheme), the answer is 2021, approved for the period 2021–22 to 2025–26.
Which Ministry Runs PM Poshan Scheme?
PM Poshan Scheme comes under the Ministry of Education, specifically the Department of School Education and Literacy. This answers the frequently searched variations:
- PM Poshan Scheme is under which ministry → Ministry of Education
- PM Poshan Scheme comes under which ministry → Ministry of Education
- PM Poshan Scheme implemented by which ministry → Ministry of Education
- PM Poshan Scheme launched by which ministry → Ministry of Education (approved by the Union Cabinet/CCEA, executed by the Ministry of Education)
At the state level, day-to-day implementation is the responsibility of State Governments and Union Territory administrations, who work under guidelines issued by the central Ministry of Education.
Objectives of PM Poshan Scheme
The scheme is designed to address two linked problems facing Indian schoolchildren — hunger and education:
- Improve the nutritional status of children studying in Balvatika and Classes 1–8 in government and government-aided schools.
- Encourage children from disadvantaged and low-income backgrounds to attend school regularly.
- Help children concentrate better on classroom learning by addressing short-term hunger (“classroom hunger”).
- Provide a social equalising space, since children of all castes, religions, and backgrounds eat together.
- Build a foundation for reducing stunting, anaemia, and undernutrition among school-age children.
PM Poshan Scheme Meal Programs: What’s Actually Served
The PM Poshan Scheme meal programme works on nutritional norms set by the central government, which states adapt using local food habits. Broadly, the norms include:
- Free foodgrains (rice/wheat) supplied by the Centre through the Food Corporation of India — around 100 grams per child per school day for Balvatika and primary classes, and around 150 grams for upper primary classes.
- Cooking cost assistance, shared between the Centre and states, covering pulses, vegetables, cooking oil, and condiments.
- Calorie and protein norms fixed per meal, differentiated for primary and upper-primary children.
- Honorarium for Cook-cum-Helpers, who prepare and serve the meals in schools — the central share has stood at ₹1,000 per month (for 10 months a year) since 2009, though several states top this up significantly from their own budgets.
Beyond the daily meal, the scheme also runs supplementary initiatives:
A community-participation programme where local people sponsor special meals for children on festivals or personal occasions.
Vegetable gardens developed on school premises, with the produce used to add micronutrients to meals.
Supplementary nutrition for children in aspirational districts and districts with high anaemia prevalence.
PM Poshan Scheme: School Meal Coverage in India
As one of the largest school lunch programmes in India, PM Poshan Scheme currently reaches roughly 11.2 crore children across close to 11.2 lakh schools — government and government-aided institutions, as well as madrasas and maqtabs supported under central schemes. This makes it one of the largest school feeding programmes anywhere in the world by number of beneficiaries.
How PM Poshan Scheme Is Funded
PM Poshan Scheme is a jointly funded, Centrally Sponsored Scheme:
Centre:State cost-sharing between the Centre and most States.
For the North-Eastern and Himalayan states, and Jammu & Kashmir.
Central funding for Union Territories without a legislature.
For the five-year period 2021–22 to 2025–26, the scheme’s total approved outlay stood at ₹1,30,794.90 crore, made up of the Central share (₹54,061.73 crore), the State/UT share (₹31,733.17 crore), and an additional Centre-borne cost of about ₹45,000 crore for foodgrains.
For the annual 2026–27 Union Budget, roughly ₹12,750 crore has been allocated centrally to PM Poshan Scheme — about 20% higher than the revised estimate for 2025–26 — continuing to cover close to 11.2 crore children.
Latest Update: PM Poshan Scheme Status in 2026
Here’s something most articles on this topic miss: the current five-year cycle of PM Poshan Scheme (2021–22 to 2025–26) formally ended on 31 March 2026. Rather than letting the scheme lapse, the Union Government granted a temporary extension, first through the middle of 2026 and then further, keeping the scheme operational while the next five-year cycle (2026–27 to 2030–31), to be aligned with the 16th Finance Commission period, is finalised and approved.
In practice, this means states have continued preparing their Annual Work Plans and Budgets for 2026–27 under existing norms, and meals have continued uninterrupted in schools, even as the formal reapproval process is underway. If you’re researching this topic for current affairs or exam prep, this extension is the most important “latest development” to be aware of.
How States Implement PM Poshan Scheme Differently
While the central framework is uniform, states are free to adapt implementation to local needs:
- Tamil Nadu operates hundreds of centralised kitchens (in partnership with organisations like Akshaya Patra) and serves eggs multiple days a week.
- Odisha relies heavily on women’s self-help groups under Mission Shakti to cook and manage meals.
- Rajasthan runs a rotating community-monitoring model involving mothers.
- West Bengal supplements the central menu with eggs or chicken on select days, funded from the state budget.
- Haryana approved a state PM Poshan budget of ₹747 crore for FY 2026–27, combining central and state shares to cover lakhs of children from pre-school to upper-primary levels.
PM Poshan Scheme vs POSHAN Abhiyaan: What’s the Difference?
Because both names contain “Poshan,” people frequently confuse PM Poshan Scheme with POSHAN Abhiyaan (the National Nutrition Mission) — but they are two separate government initiatives:
| Criteria | PM Poshan Scheme | POSHAN Abhiyaan |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman | Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment |
| Launched | 2021 (as renamed scheme); roots go back to 1995 | 8 March 2018 |
| Nodal ministry | Ministry of Education | Ministry of Women and Child Development |
| Focus | Hot cooked school meals for children in Balvatika and Classes 1–8 | Reducing stunting, wasting, undernutrition, and anaemia among children (0–6 years), adolescent girls, and pregnant/lactating mothers, largely through Anganwadi services |
| Delivery point | Schools | Anganwadi centres and community-level health platforms |
PM Poshan Scheme for UPSC and Competitive Exams
PM Poshan Scheme is a recurring topic in UPSC Prelims, state PCS exams, and SSC/banking current affairs sections. Key points worth remembering for exams:
- Renamed from Mid-Day Meal Scheme to PM POSHAN in 2021 (approved 29 September 2021).
- Falls under the Ministry of Education, not the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
- Covers Balvatika to Class 8, not just primary classes.
- Approved for 2021–22 to 2025–26, with the next cycle (2026–27 to 2030–31) tied to the 16th Finance Commission.
- Funding ratio: 60:40 general, 90:10 for NE/Himalayan states and J&K, 100% for UTs without a legislature.
- Associated features: Tithi Bhojan, School Nutrition Gardens, social audits, and involvement of FPOs and women’s Self-Help Groups.
- Do not confuse it with POSHAN Abhiyaan, which is a separate scheme under a different ministry.
PM Poshan Scheme in Regional Languages
Because implementation happens at the state level, PM Poshan Scheme materials — guidelines, food-safety instructions, and awareness content — are routinely translated into regional languages so that Cook-cum-Helpers, teachers, and School Management Committees can follow them correctly.
Several other states — including Assam, where guidelines and food-safety material have been translated into Assamese, Bengali, and Bodo — follow a similar practice to ensure last-mile understanding at the school level.
PM Poshan Scheme Logo and Official Resources
The PM Poshan Scheme uses official branding issued by the Ministry of Education, which state education departments use on circulars, school signage, and awareness material; the current logo and branding guidelines are available on the scheme’s official portal.
For authoritative, up-to-date information, always refer to:
Official website: pmposhan.education.gov.in
Official PM Poshan Scheme PDF (guidelines): available on the official website under the Guidelines section, covering food safety, procurement norms, and implementation rules for all States and UTs.
Wikipedia: the scheme is documented on Wikipedia under “Midday Meal Scheme,” which covers its history, coverage, and evolution into PM POSHAN — useful for a general overview, though the official government portal remains the authoritative source for current rules and figures.
Frequently Asked Questions About PM Poshan Scheme
What is PM Poshan Scheme?
It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that provides one hot cooked meal per school day to children in Balvatika and Classes 1–8 in government and government-aided schools, run by the Ministry of Education.
When was PM Poshan Scheme launched?
The scheme, under its current name, was approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 September 2021, for the period 2021–22 to 2025–26. It builds on the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, which was launched in 1995.
PM Poshan Scheme is under which ministry?
The Ministry of Education, Government of India, through the Department of School Education and Literacy.
PM Poshan Scheme was renamed in which year?
2021 — the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) that year.
Is PM Poshan Scheme the same as POSHAN Abhiyaan?
No. PM Poshan Scheme covers school meals under the Ministry of Education, while POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) focuses on early childhood and maternal nutrition under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
How is PM Poshan Scheme funded?
Jointly by the Centre and States in a 60:40 ratio (90:10 for NE/Himalayan states and J&K, 100% Centre-funded for UTs without a legislature).
How many children benefit from PM Poshan Scheme?
Approximately 11.2 crore children across about 11.2 lakh schools, as of the most recent budget figures.
Do parents need to apply for PM Poshan Scheme?
No individual application is required. It is a school-based, institutional scheme — any child enrolled in an eligible government or government-aided school in Balvatika to Class 8 is automatically covered.
What is the current status of PM Poshan Scheme in 2026?
The 2021–26 cycle formally ended on 31 March 2026 and has been extended while the next five-year cycle (2026–27 to 2030–31), aligned with the 16th Finance Commission period, awaits final approval. Meal delivery in schools has continued without disruption.
Where can I download the PM Poshan Scheme guidelines PDF?
On the official website, pmposhan.education.gov.in, under the Guidelines section.
Conclusion
PM Poshan Scheme is more than a renamed Mid-Day Meal Scheme — it’s an expanded, better-funded framework that now covers pre-primary children, adds community and nutrition-garden elements, and continues to evolve as India moves into its next five-year funding cycle. Whether you’re here for general awareness, school-related queries, or exam preparation, the core facts to remember are simple: it started as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in 1995, was renamed PM POSHAN in 2021 under the Ministry of Education, and currently supports over 11 crore children in schools across the country — separate from, but complementary to, the Ministry of Women and Child Development’s POSHAN Abhiyaan.
