Current Context: The Union Education Ministry announced a 9.5% increase in the material cost under the centrally sponsored PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) scheme, adding a ₹954 crore burden.

About

• Formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme, renamed in Sept 2021.
• A centrally sponsored scheme providing hot cooked meals to students from Balvatika to Class VIII in govt & govt-aided schools.

Objectives

• Improve nutritional status of children.
• Promote school attendance among disadvantaged sections.
• Provide support during summer vacations in drought/disaster-hit areas.

Financial Update (2025-26)

• Material cost hiked by 9.5%, adding ₹954 crore burden.
• Revised cost/student/day:
• Balvatika & Primary: ₹6.78 (↑ from ₹6.19)
• Upper Primary: ₹10.17 (↑ from ₹9.29)

Monitoring & Data

• Inflation tracked by Labour Bureau using CPI-Rural Labourers (CPI-RL).
• Data from 600 villages across 20 states.
• Scale & Coverage:Reaches 11.20 crore students in 10.36 lakh schools.