National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid-Day Meal)

iAbout This Scheme

Launched by Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao on 15 August 1995 to provide cooked or processed nutritious meals to primary school children to boost enrolment and attendance. Initially it allowed states to provide either cooked meals or dry rations. The Supreme Court order of 2001 directed all states to convert to cooked meals. The programme was renamed the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme in September 2021.

🎁Key Benefits

• Free cooked mid-day meal or dry rations to primary school children
• Nutrition to improve school enrolment and retention
• Caste integration through shared meals at school
• Employment for local women as school cooks

✅Eligibility Criteria

• 1
  Scheme renamed PM POSHAN 2021 — historical archive of original 1995 programme

📝How to Apply

❓Frequently Asked Questions