Mid-Day Meal Scheme (Now PM POSHAN): Hot Cooked Meals for Schoolchildren
Millions of children in India get a hot, cooked meal at school every day. The Mid-Day Meal Scheme was built to bring more children into school, keep them there and improve their nutrition.
The scheme has a new name. On 29 September 2021, the Government of India renamed it the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme. It continues to provide hot cooked meals to eligible children in government and government-aided schools.
What is the scheme?
It is a nationwide school meal programme that aims to:
- Increase school enrolment and attendance
- Reduce dropouts
- Improve nutrition among school-age children
Who is covered?
Children in Classes 1 to 8 in:
- Government and government-aided schools
- Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centres
- Special Training Centres
- Madarsas and Maktabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
There is no application form for families. The benefit is delivered through the school.
Food and nutrition norms
These norms apply from the 2009 amendments onwards.
| Item | Primary (Class 1 to 5) | Upper primary (Class 6 to 8) |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 12 g | 20 g |
| Calories | 450 | 700 |
| Pulses | 20 g | 30 g |
| Oil and fat | 5 g | 7.5 g |
| Vegetables | 50 g | 75 g |
| Food grains | 100 g | 150 g |
| Salt and condiments | As needed | As needed |
Cooks and helpers
- Up to 25 students: 1 cook-cum-helper
- 26 to 100 students: 2 cooks-cum-helpers
- Each additional 100 students (or part thereof, up to 100): 1 more cook-cum-helper
Cooking cost per child per day
These rates are effective from 1 April 2019 and are shared between the Centre and the States.
| Level | Total cost | Non-NER states and UTs with legislature (60:40): Centre / State | NER states and 3 Himalayan states (90:10): Centre / State | UTs without legislature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary (1 to 5) | ₹4.48 | ₹2.69 / ₹1.79 | ₹4.03 / ₹0.45 | ₹4.48 (100% Centre) |
| Upper primary (6 to 8) | ₹6.71 | ₹4.03 / ₹2.68 | ₹6.04 / ₹0.67 | ₹6.71 (100% Centre) |
Contact details
Ministry (as listed in the source)
- Mid Day Meal Scheme, Department of School Education & Literacy, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi 110001
- Phone: 011-23384253, 011-23387980, 011-23387210, 011-23386024
Technical support: EdCIL (India) Limited, Technical Support Group, 6th Floor, Vijaya Building, 17 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi 110001
- Phone: 011-23765621, 011-23765622
- Email: indiamdm@gmail.com
- Website: mdm.nic.in
For state-level queries, contact your State or UT education directorate.
Related scheme
- PM POSHAN Scheme: the current name and framework for hot cooked meals in government and government-aided schools