MDM

Mid Day Meal Scheme

6.5/10

The Mid Day Meal Program was launched as a centrally sponsored scheme on August 15, 1995, across the country.

State

States / UT: Rajasthan

Ministry / nodal: Ministry of Education

Nodal department: Mid-Day-Meal (Elementary Education)

Scheme for: Individual

Scheme profile

DBT (direct benefit transfer): No

Target beneficiaries: Students

Tags: Mid Day Meal, Education, Students, Nutrition, Government Scheme, School Meals, Rajasthan, Child Welfare, Hot Meals, Elementary Education, Public Health, Support

Details

The Mid Day Meal Program was launched as a centrally sponsored scheme on August 15, 1995, across the country. In September 2004, significant changes were made to the program, introducing a menu-based provision of cooked hot meals. Currently, this program is implemented by the state government with the support of the Government of India in all government and aided schools at the upper primary level, schools run by local bodies, Education Guarantee Scheme and AIE centers, special schools operated under the National Child Labor Project (NCLP), and madrasas.

Benefits

  • - Students in grades 1 to 5 receive meals providing 450 calories and 12 grams of protein
  • Students in grades 6 to 8 receive meals providing 700 calories and 20 grams of protein
  • Students in grades 1 to 5 receive meals providing 450 calories and 12 grams of protein.
  • Students in grades 6 to 8 receive meals providing 700 calories and 20 grams of protein.

Eligibility

All students studying in grades 1 to 8 in government schools (including all types of centers funded by the central/state government, Sanskrit department, TAD, other government departments/local bodies/panchayati raj institutions), AIE centers, aided schools, and special centers operated under the child labor project are eligible.

How useful is this scheme?

Public benefit analysis

A practical look at this scheme for citizens

AI-generated insights showing how useful, accessible, and practical this scheme may be — combining deterministic scoring rules with a public-policy LLM analyst.

6.5
/ 10
Public Benefit Score
Accessibility 8.0/10 Good
Rural usefulness 5.0/10 Moderate
Application complexity 3.0/10 Good
Financial impact 5.0/10 Moderate
Literacy barrier 5.0/10 Moderate
Women inclusivity 7.0/10 Good
Awareness 4.5/10 Moderate
Implementation reliability 8.0/10 Good
Bigger shape means a better fit for citizens
  • Accessibility8.0
  • Financial impact5.0
  • Rural utility5.0
  • Awareness4.5
  • Simplicity7.0
  • Inclusivity7.0

What problem does this scheme solve?

The Mid Day Meal Scheme provides essential nutrition to students in government schools, promoting education and health.

Key challenges addressed

  • Nutritional deficiency among school children
  • Encouragement of school attendance

Most beneficial for

  • Students in grades 1 to 8
  • Low-income families

Likely challenges

  • Awareness of the scheme among parents
  • Ensuring consistent meal quality

Practical insights for citizens

Generally practical, but requires community engagement

Rural challenges

  • Lack of awareness in remote areas
  • Inconsistent meal delivery

Implementation bottlenecks

  • Quality control of meals
  • Monitoring attendance

Awareness challenges

  • Limited outreach programs

Application analysis

Application mode
Offline office
Documents burden
Minimal, no specific documents required
Verification complexity
Low
Office dependency
Low
DBT dependency
No
CSC support
Limited
Estimated citizen effort
Low effort required

Estimated beneficiary reach

  • Rural / urban reach High
  • Gender reach Equal
  • Target income group Low-income families
  • Occupation reach Students

Benefit analysis

Benefit type
Nutritional meals
Benefit frequency
Daily
Benefit practicality
High, as meals are provided at school
Financial meaningfulness
High, as it reduces food expenses for families
Long-term impact
Positive impact on education and health outcomes

Plain-language guidance

The Mid Day Meal Scheme provides free meals to students in government schools, helping them stay healthy and focused on their studies. It is available for children in grades 1 to 8.

Who should apply
Parents of students in government schools
Who may struggle
Parents with limited awareness of the scheme
Best application route
Apply directly at your child's school

This intelligence section is generated by an AI policy analyst combined with rule-based scoring. Scores and narrative are estimates derived from the publicly available scheme information shown on this page; actual experience may vary by state, district, and department. Always confirm details on the official portal before you apply.

Application Process

Online

Applications can be submitted at all government schools, AIE centers, aided schools, and special centers operated under the child labor project. The application form can be obtained from these institutions.

References

Scheme page (portal)
https://jaipur.rajasthan.gov.in/scheme/detail/251
Department website
https://education.rajasthan.gov.in/content/raj/education/en/school-sec-education/mid-day-meal/home.html#

Apply

Apply now

Opens the official application or programme portal in a new tab. If in doubt, confirm details on the ministry site.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Mid Day Meal Scheme is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Students through benefits related to General, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
Who can apply for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Eligibility for Mid Day Meal Scheme may depend on factors such as income category, age, gender, occupation, state of residence, social category, and government-defined beneficiary criteria.
What benefits are offered under Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Benefits under Mid Day Meal Scheme may include financial assistance, subsidies, scholarships, insurance support, healthcare benefits, pension support, training assistance, or welfare services depending on the scheme guidelines.
Which department manages Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Mid Day Meal Scheme is managed by Mid-Day-Meal (Elementary Education) and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
Can users apply online for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for Mid Day Meal Scheme through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
Is Aadhaar mandatory for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Many government schemes may require Aadhaar verification, identity proof, or linked bank account details for beneficiary validation and direct benefit transfer processing.
Where can users apply for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Applications for Mid Day Meal Scheme may be submitted through government departments, official scheme portals, CSC centres, district offices, welfare departments, or authorised service centres.
What documents may be required for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Applicants may need Aadhaar card, income certificate, residence proof, bank account details, caste certificate, photographs, educational records, or occupation-related documents depending on scheme eligibility requirements.
Is income certificate required for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under Mid Day Meal Scheme.
Is Mid Day Meal Scheme available in all states?
No, Mid Day Meal Scheme is primarily available for eligible residents of Rajasthan and may be implemented through state government departments and local administrative offices.
Can residents outside Rajasthan apply for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Eligibility for Mid Day Meal Scheme is generally limited to residents of Rajasthan unless otherwise specified in the official scheme guidelines.
Can students apply for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for Mid Day Meal Scheme depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
Is scholarship amount provided under Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Mid Day Meal Scheme may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
Does Mid Day Meal Scheme provide healthcare or insurance support?
Mid Day Meal Scheme may provide healthcare assistance, insurance coverage, cashless treatment support, medical reimbursement, or hospital-related benefits depending on the scheme structure.
Can beneficiaries use Mid Day Meal Scheme at government hospitals?
Eligible beneficiaries may be able to access services at empanelled hospitals, government healthcare facilities, or authorised healthcare providers depending on scheme participation rules.
Can CSC centres help users apply for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Many government schemes may be accessible through nearby CSC centres, authorised digital service centres, or welfare facilitation offices.
How can users check the latest updates for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
Can beneficiaries track application status for Mid Day Meal Scheme?
Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
Where can users get help for Mid Day Meal Scheme in Rajasthan?
Users in Rajasthan may seek assistance through CSC centres, district welfare offices, government departments, agriculture offices, social welfare departments, or authorised facilitation centres.
Which nearby public services may help with Mid Day Meal Scheme applications?
Depending on the scheme, users may require support from Aadhaar centres, CSC centres, banks, hospitals, post offices, or government welfare offices for document verification and application assistance.