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PM POSHAN – Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment

PM POSHAN

Published: Sep 2026

4 min read

Reviewed by Navin, Editor · First published: 30 Sep 2026

PM POSHAN โ€“ Prime Ministerโ€™s Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment
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Written by Navin · Editor, tsmpb.inUpdated: 17 Oct 2026 · How we verify scheme facts

About this health scheme

PM POSHAN is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education. Under this scheme, one hot cooked meal will be provided to the children studying in Government and Government โ€“ aided schools. The Scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Education.

PM POSHAN is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education. Under this scheme, one hot cooked meal will be provided to the children studying in Government and Government โ€“ aided schools. The Scheme is implemented across the country covering all the eligible children without any discrimination of gender and social class.

Objective:

The main objectives of the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan are to address two of the pressing problems for the majority of children in India, viz. hunger and education by improving the nutritional status of eligible children in Government and Government-aided schools as well as encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.

POSHAN Abhiyaan is one of the many schemes under the umbrella scheme "Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS)". ICDS also includes Anganwadi Services Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls.

Benefits at a glance

Scheme namePM POSHAN – Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment (PM POSHAN)
Launched byMinistry of Education
DepartmentDepartment of School Education and Literacy
Launch year2018
Benefit typeIn kind (goods, services or support, not cash)
CategoryHealth
Level / StateCentral ยท All India
Official portalindia.gov.in (link at the end of this page)

Key facts

Scheme typeCentrally Sponsored Scheme
Implementing agencyMinistry Of Education
Scheme forIndividual
Application modeOffline
Last dateOngoing (no last date notified)
DBT (direct bank transfer)No

Who can apply (quick check)

  • ๐Ÿ‘คAll genders
  • ๐ŸŽ‚Age 0 to 18 years
  • ๐Ÿ’ผStudent
  • ๐ŸŽ“Students only
  • ๐Ÿ“Offline

Quick check from official data. Full conditions are in the Eligibility section.

What you receive

Nutrition norm per child per day:

  1. Primary: Calorie โ€“ 450; Protein - 12 gms
  2. Upper Primary: Calorie โ€“ 700; Protein - 20 gms

Food norms per child per day:

  1. Primary: Food grains - 100 gms; Pulses - 20 gms; Vegetables - 50 gms; Oil & fat - 5 gms, Salt & condiments - As per need.
  2. Upper Primary: Food grains - 150 gms; Pulses - 30 gms; Vegetables - 75 gms; Oil & fat โ€“ 7.5 gms, Salt & condiments - As per need.

Under the Scheme, there is the provision of hot cooked meals to children of pre-schools or Bal Vatika (before class I) in primary schools also in addition to the 11.80 crore children of classes I to VIII studying in 11.20 lakh schools.

Who qualifies

  1. The applicant must be a citizen of India.
  2. The applicant must be studying in a Primary or Upper Primary class (Class 1st to Class 8th) in a Government or a Government-aided school.

Who is not eligible

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Papers to keep ready

No documents are required for availing the benefits of this scheme.

Registration walkthrough

Offline

There is no application process for this scheme. PM POSHAN is equally applicable to all children who are studying in Government and Government โ€“ aided schools.

Important dates

Launch / start08 Mar 2018

Frequently asked questions

What is PM POSHAN Scheme?

PM POSHAN is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Ministry of Education that provides hot cooked meals to children studying in Government and Government-aided schools to improve their nutritional status and encourage regular school attendance.

Who is eligible to benefit from PM POSHAN?

All children studying in:

  • Pre-school (Bal Vatika) within primary schools
  • Class 1 to Class 8

in Government or Government-aided schools are eligible. There is no need to apply for the scheme.

What kind of meals are provided under this scheme?

The scheme provides one hot cooked meal per school day that meets specific calorie and protein norms. The meal includes food grains, pulses, vegetables, oil/fat, and condiments.

What are the nutrition norms per child per day under PM POSHAN?

  • Primary (Class 1โ€“5):
  1. Calories: 450 kcal
  2. Protein: 12 grams
  • Upper Primary (Class 6โ€“8):
  1. Calories: 700 kcal
  2. Protein: 20 grams

What are the food quantity norms per child per day?

  • Primary:
  1. Food grains: 100 g
  2. Pulses: 20 g
  3. Vegetables: 50 g
  4. Oil & fat: 5 g
  • Upper Primary:
  1. Food grains: 150 g
  2. Pulses: 30 g
  3. Vegetables: 75 g
  4. Oil & fat: 7.5 g

(Salt & condiments as per need)

Is there any discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender under PM POSHAN?

No. The scheme is universal and inclusive, and benefits are provided to all eligible children without any discrimination.

Is there an application process for this scheme?

No application is required. All eligible children automatically receive the benefits as part of their school program.

What is the objective of PM POSHAN Scheme?

The scheme aims to:

  • Enhance nutrition for school children
  • Encourage school attendance
  • Improve concentration and learning outcomes
  • Promote social equity through common meals

Is this scheme part of a broader initiative?

Yes, PM POSHAN operates under the umbrella of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which includes:

  • Anganwadi Services Scheme
  • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
  • Scheme for Adolescent Girls

How many children and schools are covered under PM POSHAN?

The scheme benefits approximately more than 11.80 crore children across 11.20 lakh schools throughout India, making it one of the worldโ€™s largest school nutrition programs.

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