Central government scheme · Ministry of Education (Department of School Education and Literacy)

Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman

Also called PM POSHAN · Formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman is a central scheme run by the Ministry of Education (Department of School Education and Literacy). It is for children studying in Balvatika (pre-primary) and classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools. Beneficiaries get one hot cooked meal on all school days, with foodgrains supplied free by the Centre through FCI. No application is needed; you enrol the child in a government or government-aided school, and the meal is served at school.

Written by AI from the official details below.

Who can apply for PM POSHAN

  • Children studying in Balvatika (pre-primary) and classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools.
  • No application or income test; every enrolled child in a covered school gets the meal.

PM POSHAN benefits

  • One hot cooked meal on all school days.
  • Each meal includes pulses (20 g primary, 30 g upper primary), vegetables (50 g / 75 g) and oil (5 g / 7.5 g) besides foodgrains.
  • Minimum material cost from 1 May 2025: ₹6.78 per child per day (Balvatika and primary), ₹10.17 (upper primary); states may add more.
  • Foodgrains supplied free by the Centre through FCI.

How to apply for PM POSHAN

  1. No application is needed. Enrol the child in a government or government-aided school; the meal is served at school.

Where it applies

Every state and union territory. See what else applies near you

Checked

Checked against the sources below on 16 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the official site before you apply.

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