Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban 2026

PM POSHAN is a central government initiative to provide a hot cooked meal to every child studying Read More... in government and government-aided schools, aiming to boost nutrition and school attendance. Read less

Details

Ensuring that every child gets a nutritious meal at school is a big step towards a healthier and brighter future. The PM POSHAN scheme is designed to do just that!

What Is This Scheme?

PM POSHAN, which stands for Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment, is a major program run by the Department of School Education & Literacy, under the Ministry of Education. Its main goal is to ensure that children in government schools and schools supported by the government get a hot, cooked meal every day they attend. This is a nationwide program, ensuring no child is left behind, regardless of their background.

Who Can Benefit From This Scheme?

This scheme is for children who are studying in government or government-aided schools. Specifically, it covers children from the pre-school stage (known as Bal Vatika, before Class 1) all the way up to Class 8. The idea is to include all eligible children, making sure that nutrition is not a barrier to education.

Why This Scheme Is Important

PM POSHAN tackles two big challenges: hunger and education. By providing nutritious meals, it helps children improve their health and concentration in class. It also encourages children from less privileged backgrounds to attend school regularly, knowing they will get a good meal. This scheme is a vital part of a larger effort to ensure holistic development for children.

Objective

PM POSHAN is a central government initiative to provide a hot cooked meal to every child studying in government and government-aided schools, aiming to boost nutrition and school attendance.

Benefits

Slum rehabilitation of eligible Slum Dwellers with participation of private developers using land as a resource.

Promotion of Affordable Housing through Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS).EWS: Annual Household Income up to Rs.3,00,000; house sizes upto 30 sq.m; LIG: Annual Household Income from Rs.3,00,001 to Rs.6,00,000; house sizes upto 60 sq.m; MIG I: Annual Household Income from Rs. 6,00,001 to Rs. 12,00,000; house sizes upto 160 sq.m; MIG II: Annual Household Income from Rs.12,00,001 and 18,00,000; house sizes upto 200 sq.m

Affordable Housing in Partnership with Public & Private sectors:Central Assistance per EWS house in projects where 35% of houses are for EWSs

Subsidy for Beneficiary-Led individual house construction /enhancement:For individuals of EWS category requiring individual house (separate project for such beneficiaries)

Sources and references

Guidelines

Eligibility Criteria

You must be an Indian citizen.
You must be a student enrolled in a Primary or Upper Primary class (covering Class 1st to Class 8th).
You must be studying in a Government school or a Government-aided school.

How To Apply

There is no direct application process for students or parents to apply for the PM POSHAN scheme. The benefits are automatically provided to all eligible children as part of their schooling in Government and Government-aided schools. Schools are responsible for implementing the scheme and providing the meals.

Documents Required

No specific documents are required for students to avail of the benefits under the PM POSHAN scheme. Eligibility is based on enrollment in a Government or Government-aided school and the student's class level.

FAQ’s

What is the main goal of the PM POSHAN scheme?

The main goal is to improve the nutritional status of school-going children and encourage them to attend school regularly. It also aims to help them concentrate better in classrooms.

Do I need to fill out any forms to get the meal under PM POSHAN?

No, you don't need to fill out any application forms. All eligible children studying in government and government-aided schools automatically receive the benefits of the hot cooked meal as part of their school program.

Which children are covered by the PM POSHAN scheme?

The scheme covers all children studying in pre-schools (Bal Vatika) and classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools across India.

What are the daily nutritional guidelines for the meals?

For Primary classes (1-5), the meal should provide 450 calories and 12 grams of protein. For Upper Primary classes (6-8), it should provide 700 calories and 20 grams of protein daily.

Can you tell me the exact quantities of food ingredients provided?

Certainly! For Primary students, it's 100g food grains, 20g pulses, 50g vegetables, and 5g oil/fat. For Upper Primary students, it's 150g food grains, 30g pulses, 75g vegetables, and 7.5g oil/fat. Salt and condiments are included as needed.

Does the PM POSHAN scheme include children of all backgrounds?

Yes, absolutely. The scheme is inclusive and provides meals to all eligible children studying in government and government-aided schools, without any discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender.

Is PM POSHAN a standalone program?

No, PM POSHAN is part of a larger initiative called the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). Other schemes under ICDS include the Anganwadi Services Scheme and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.

How many children are expected to benefit from this scheme?

This ambitious scheme aims to reach over 11.80 crore children who are enrolled in approximately 11.20 lakh schools nationwide.

What kind of meal is provided under PM POSHAN?

The scheme provides one hot cooked meal each school day. This meal is prepared according to specific nutritional standards, ensuring children get adequate calories and protein from grains, pulses, and vegetables.