PM POSHAN
PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment
8.5/10PM POSHAN, implemented by the Ministry of Education, is a centrally sponsored initiative aimed at enhancing the nutritional status of children in India. It provides one hot cooked meal daily to children studying in Government and Government-aided schools, including pre-schools or Bal Vatika. The scheme targets approximately 11.80 crore children across 11.20 lakh schools, ensuring that meals meet specific nutritional standards. For primary students (Class 1-5), the meals provide 450 calories and 12 grams of protein, while upper primary students (Class 6-8) receive 700 calories and 20 grams of protein. The food served includes grains, pulses, vegetables, and oil, adhering to defined quantity norms. PM POSHAN not only aims to improve nutrition but also encourages regular school attendance and promotes social equity by providing meals to all eligible children without discrimination. There is no application process; all eligible children automatically receive benefits as part of their school program.
States / UT: All India
Ministry / nodal: Ministry of Education
Nodal department: Department of School Education and Literacy
Scheme for: Individual
Scheme profile
DBT (direct benefit transfer): No
Scheme open date: 2018-03-08
Categories: Health & Wellness, Social welfare & Empowerment
Sub-categories: Food Security / Public Distribution System, Children’s health and immunization, Health promotion
Target beneficiaries: Individual
Tags: School, Children, Health, Govt Scheme, Nutrition India
Details
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 – aided schools. The Scheme is implemented across the country covering all the eligible children without any discrimination of gender and social class.
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
- Nutrition norm per child per day: 1. Primary: Calorie – 450; Protein - 12 gms 1. Upper Primary: Calorie – 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. 1. Upper Primary: Food grains - 150 gms; Pulses - 30 gms; Vegetables - 75 gms; Oil & fat – 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
Nutrition norm per child per day:
- Primary: Calorie – 450; Protein - 12 gms
- Upper Primary: Calorie – 700; Protein - 20 gms
Food norms per child per day:
- Primary: Food grains - 100 gms; Pulses - 20 gms; Vegetables - 50 gms; Oil & fat - 5 gms, Salt & condiments - As per need.
- Upper Primary: Food grains - 150 gms; Pulses - 30 gms; Vegetables - 75 gms; Oil & fat – 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.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a citizen of India.
- 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.
How useful is this scheme?
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.
- Accessibility10.0
- Financial impact9.5
- Rural utility6.0
- Awareness7.5
- Simplicity5.0
- Inclusivity10.0
What problem does this scheme solve?
PM POSHAN provides essential nutritional support to children in government schools, addressing hunger and promoting education.
Key challenges addressed
- Hunger among school children
- Encouragement of regular school attendance
Most beneficial for
- Children from low-income families
- Disadvantaged social groups
Likely challenges
- Awareness among rural populations
- Implementation consistency in remote areas
Practical insights for citizens
Highly practical as it integrates with existing school programs
Rural challenges
- Awareness of the scheme in remote areas
Implementation bottlenecks
- Consistency in meal quality and delivery
Awareness challenges
- Limited outreach in rural communities
Application analysis
- Application mode
- Offline
- Documents burden
- None
- Verification complexity
- Low
- Office dependency
- None
- DBT dependency
- No
- CSC support
- Not applicable
- Estimated citizen effort
- Minimal effort required
Estimated beneficiary reach
Benefit analysis
- Benefit type
- In Kind
- Benefit frequency
- Daily
- Benefit practicality
- High, as meals are provided at schools
- Financial meaningfulness
- N/A
- Long-term impact
- Improved nutrition and educational outcomes for children
Plain-language guidance
PM POSHAN provides free hot meals to children in government schools, helping them stay healthy and attend school regularly. There is no application needed; all eligible children receive meals automatically.
- Who should apply
- All children studying in government or government-aided schools.
- Who may struggle
- None, as there is no application process.
- Best application route
- No application needed; benefits are provided automatically in schools.
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
Offline
There is no application process for this scheme. PM POSHAN is equally applicable to all children who are studying in Government and Government – aided schools.
Clarifications
Additional points from the scheme information published on myScheme (not legal advice).
- 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 1–5): 1. Calories: 450 kcal 1. Protein: 12 grams - Upper Primary (Class 6–8): 1. Calories: 700 kcal 1. Protein: 20 grams
- What are the food quantity norms per child per day?
- Primary: 1. Food grains: 100 g 1. Pulses: 20 g 1. Vegetables: 50 g 1. Oil & fat: 5 g - Upper Primary: 1. Food grains: 150 g 1. Pulses: 30 g 1. Vegetables: 75 g 1. Oil & fat: 7.5 g
(Salt & condiments as per need)
- Primary: 1. Food grains: 100 g 1. Pulses: 20 g 1. Vegetables: 50 g 1. Oil & fat: 5 g - Upper Primary: 1. Food grains: 150 g 1. Pulses: 30 g 1. Vegetables: 75 g 1. Oil & fat: 7.5 g
- 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 world’s largest school nutrition programs.
Official links
References
- Guidelines
- https://www.india.gov.in/spotlight/poshan-abhiyaan-pms-overarching-scheme-holistic-nourishment
- PIB
- https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1812421#:~:text=The%20Government%20has%20approved%20the,by%20the%20Ministry%20of%20Education.
Apply
Apply nowOpens 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment is a government welfare initiative designed to support Individual, Individual through benefits related to Health & Wellness, financial assistance, subsidies, social welfare, healthcare, education, or livelihood support.
- Who can apply for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Eligibility for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Benefits under PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment is managed by Department of School Education and Literacy and may be implemented through district offices, online portals, CSC centres, banks, or authorised government agencies.
- Can users apply online for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Yes, eligible applicants may be able to apply online for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment through official government portals, authorised service centres, or digital application systems depending on the implementation process.
- Is Aadhaar mandatory for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Applications for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Income certificate requirements may vary depending on beneficiary category, subsidy eligibility, and financial assistance criteria defined under PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment.
- Is PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment a central government scheme?
- Yes, PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment is a central government welfare initiative that may be implemented across multiple states through authorised departments and agencies.
- Can students apply for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Eligible students studying in recognised institutions may apply for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment depending on educational qualification, category, income limit, and academic eligibility.
- Is scholarship amount provided under PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment may provide scholarship assistance, tuition support, educational reimbursement, or financial aid for eligible students.
- Does PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment provide healthcare or insurance support?
- PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment may provide healthcare assistance, insurance coverage, cashless treatment support, medical reimbursement, or hospital-related benefits depending on the scheme structure.
- Can beneficiaries use PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Users should verify official notifications, department announcements, application deadlines, and eligibility updates through authorised government portals or implementing agencies.
- Are there deadlines for applying to PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Some schemes may operate through fixed application windows, annual registration cycles, or department-specific deadlines depending on scheme implementation policies.
- Can beneficiaries track application status for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment?
- Certain schemes may provide online application tracking, beneficiary verification systems, or status-check facilities through official portals.
- Where can users get help for PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment in All India?
- Users in All India 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 PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment 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.