Education is part of the Concurrent List of the Constitution and most of the Government Schools and School Boards are under the administration of the State Government and Union Territory (UTs) Administrations. PM POSHAN Scheme is implemented in partnership with the State Governments and UT Administrations. The overall responsibility for providing hot and nutritious meals to all children studying in Bal Vatika (just before class 1) and classes I to VIII of Government and Government aided schools lies with the State Governments and UT Administrations.
The States and UTs are encouraged to decide menus suitable to the local conditions within the prescribed nutrition and food norms and to procure locally grown food items like millets, vegetables, condiments etc.
Under the PM Poshan Scheme, one hot cooked meal is provided to all eligible children on all school working days. As per the provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013 and the Guidelines of the Scheme, the nutritional and food norms prescribed under the Scheme are as follows:
| Items | For children of Primary classes | For children of Upper Primary classes |
| A) Nutritional Norms (Per child per day) | ||
| Calorie | 450 | 700 |
| Protein | 12 gms | 20 gms |
| B) Quantum of Food Norms (Per child per day) | ||
| Food-grains | 100 gms | 150 gms |
| Pulses | 20 gms | 30 gms |
| Vegetables | 50 gms | 75 gms |
| Oil & fat | 5 gms | 7.5 gms |
| Salt & condiments | As per need | As per need |
Further, there is a provision of 5% of total recurring budget as the flexi component to be used by the States/UTs for setting up of School Nutrition Gardens (SNGs) and provision of supplementary nutrition interventions in identified districts. Many States/UTs also provide additional supplementary nutrition keeping in view local food habits, cultural preferences, availability and dietary practices.
Regarding the impact of PM Poshan Scheme, NITI AAYOG has conducted the evaluation of the Scheme through independent third-party agency in 2025-26. The study concluded that the PM POSHAN scheme has a positive impact on improving child nutrition and boosting learning outcomes.
This information was given by Minister of State for Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
