About

• PM POSHAN (POshan SHAkti Nirman) is a centrally sponsored scheme under which one hot cooked meal is served to 11.70 crore students studying in Balvatika (pre-schools) and classes I to VIII, in Government and Government-aided schools on all school-days. 
• Earlier known as ‘National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools’, the scheme was renamed PM POSHAN in 2021 and is being implemented by the Ministry of Education. 
• The Scheme aims at providing nutritional support and enhancing school participation of students.

• Additional features under PM POSHAN Scheme:- 
  • Tithi Bhojan: It is a community participation programme in which people provide special food to children on special occasions/festivals in addition to regular meal. 
  • School Nutrition Gardens: Development of School Nutrition Gardens in schools is being promoted to give children first hand experience with nature and gardening. 
  • Social Audit: Social Audit in all districts is made mandatory under the Scheme. Social Audit is collective monitoring of a scheme by people’s active involvement covering issues of equity, equality and expenditure management. 
  • Disaster Management: Provision of hot cooked meal or Food Security Allowance to children when schools are closed due to a disaster.

The overall responsibility for functioning of the scheme lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.