PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman), formerly known as the National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools, provides a free hot cooked meal every school day to children enrolled in government and government-aided schools. The scheme aims to tackle malnutrition, boost school attendance, improve classroom concentration, and promote social equity among young students.
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PM POSHAN (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)
Free, nutritious school meals for children from pre-primary to Class 8 in government and government-aided schools.
Government Scheme
Quick Information
- Category
- Government Scheme
- Department
- Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education
- Government Level
- Central Government
- Official Portal
- pmposhan.education.gov.in
- Last Verified
- 2026-09-06
Overview
Important Information
Eligibility & Benefits
- Eligibility
- Children studying in Classes 1-8 (including Bal Vatika/pre-primary) in government and government-aided schools; automatically covered through enrolment, with no separate application.
- Benefits
- A free daily cooked meal at school: primary students (Classes 1-5) receive at least 450 calories and 12g protein; upper-primary students (Classes 6-8) receive at least 700 calories and 20g protein per meal.
- Required documents
- None for the student — enrolment in an eligible school is sufficient.
How to Apply
- Application process
- No application required; the meal is provided automatically to all enrolled students at eligible schools.
Official Source
Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education
Visit Official Website / Apply
Opens the official government website in a new tab — not part of Vedant Platform.
Source: PM POSHAN Portal, Ministry of Education
Last verified: 2026-09-06
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