PM POSHAN Scheme 2026: Free Hot Cooked Meals for School Children

PM POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Department of School Education & Literacy, under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Under this flagship scheme, one hot cooked nutritious meal is provided to children studying in Government and Government-aided schools across India. The scheme is implemented uniformly across the country, covering all eligible children without discrimination based on gender, caste, or social class.

PM POSHAN Scheme

PM POSHAN aims to tackle two major challenges faced by children in India:

Hunger and malnutrition
Low school attendance and poor learning outcomes

By providing nutritious meals in schools, the scheme improves the nutritional status of children, encourages regular school attendance, and helps students concentrate better on classroom activities.

Objectives of PM POSHAN Abhiyaan
The key objectives of the PM POSHAN scheme are:

To improve the nutritional status of children studying in Government and Government-aided schools
To address classroom hunger and reduce malnutrition
To increase enrolment, attendance, and retention of children in schools
To support children from economically weaker and disadvantaged sections
To promote holistic physical and mental development of children

PM POSHAN and POSHAN Abhiyaan

POSHAN Abhiyaan functions under the umbrella of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, which includes:

Anganwadi Services Scheme
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
Scheme for Adolescent Girls

Benefits of PM POSHAN Scheme

Primary Classes (I–V):

Calories: 450
Protein: 12 grams

Upper Primary Classes (VI–VIII):

Calories: 700
Protein: 20 grams

Food Norms (Per Child Per Day)

Primary (I–V):
Food grains: 100 gms
Pulses: 20 gms
Vegetables: 50 gms
Oil & Fat: 5 gms
Salt & Condiments: As per requirement
Upper Primary (VI–VIII):
Food grains: 150 gms
Pulses: 30 gms
Vegetables: 75 gm
Oil & Fat: 7.5 gms
Salt & Condiments: As per requirement

Coverage Under PM POSHAN Scheme

Covers Classes I to VIII
Benefits around 11.80 crore children
Implemented in over 11.20 lakh schools across India
Includes pre-school children / Bal Vatika (before Class I) in primary school premises

Eligibility Criteria

To receive benefits under PM POSHAN:

The student must be a citizen of India
The student must be studying in Class 1 to Class 8
The school must be a Government or Government-aided school

Application Process

No application is required
The scheme is automatically applicable to all eligible students
Benefits are provided directly through the school