Lok Sabha Question No. 1240 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Hot Meals in Schools under PM-POSHAN Scheme
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri  Selvaganapathi T.M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No -1240

ANSWERED ON- 28/07/2025

## Hot Meals in Schools under PM-POSHAN Scheme

## 1240. Shri Selvaganapathi T.M.:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the material cost for cooking hot meals in schools under the PMPOSHAN scheme has been increased, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  it  is  also  true  that  the  Government  provides  foodgrains  through  the  Food Corporation of India and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is also true that many State Governments have been demanding to enhance the share of the Union Government under PM-POSHAN due to the high inflation index; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the views of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme is one of the foremost rights based Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented in partnership with the States and UTs for providing one hot cooked and nutritious meal to all children studying in Bal Vatika (just before class-I) and classes I to VIII of Government and Government-aided schools.  The Scheme covers about 11 crore children in more than 10.35 lakh schools in all the States/UTs. PM POSHAN Scheme is implemented in partnership with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The overall responsibility for providing hot and nutritious meal to the eligible children lies with the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Central Government provides 100% assistance for cost of foodgrains, transportation cost and cost of Management Monitoring & Evolution (MME). The material cost under PM POSHAN Scheme has been increased twice recently. The rationale behind increasing the material cost under PM POSHAN Scheme is to factor in inflation in the cost of ingredients e.g. pulses, vegetables, cooking oil, other condiments and fuel. The existing rates of material cost have been revised based on Consumer Price Index - Rural Laborers (CPI-RL) index. It will help the schools to provide all the nutrients as prescribed to students and improve the quality of food. The  comparative  per  student  per  day  Material  Cost  under  PM  POSHAN  Scheme  is  at Annexure I.

As mandated under the Scheme, foodgrains are provided by Food Corporation of India (FCI). The foodgrains/ fortified foodgrains are allocated bi-annually by the Department of School Education and Literacy with the concurrence of Department of Food and Public Distribution. The allocation of foodgrains, as approved by the Programme Approval Board (PAB) are made to the State Nodal Department and the FCI. The payment of the cost of foodgrains has been decentralized to ensure greater stake holding and role of the district authorities in ensuring prompt lifting of foodgrains and timely payment to FCI, which has resulted in reducing time lag  in  making  payment  to  FCI.  It  is  the  responsibility  of  the  FCI  to  ensure  continuous availability of adequate foodgrains in its Depots (and in Principal Distribution Centres in the case of North East Region). It will allow lifting of foodgrains for any month/quarter upto one month in advance so that supply chain of foodgrains remains uninterrupted. FCI will issue foodgrains of best available quality, which will in any case be at least of Fair Average Quality (FAQ). FCI has also appointed a Nodal Officer for each State to take care of various problems in supply of foodgrains under the Scheme. The District Collector/CEO of Zila Panchayat will also ensure that foodgrains of at least FAQ are issued by FCI after joint inspection by a team consisting of FCI and the nominee of the Collector and/or Chief Executive Officer, District Panchayat, and confirmation by them that the grain conforms to at least FAQ norms. FCI will keep samples of such foodgrains supplied by it for future verification and analysis; this will be available in case of any complaints regarding the quality of foodgrains supplied.

It  may  be  noted  that  though  PM  POSHAN  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme,  the  Central Government provides 100% assistance for cost of foodgrains, transportation cost and cost of Management Monitoring & Evolution (MME). The State Governments and UT Administrations prepare comprehensive Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP&B), inter-alia, with detailed district-wise vital information on coverage of children, working days and schools; enrolment in schools; utilisation of foodgrains, utilisation of cooking cost, transportation cost, Management,  Monitoring  and  Evaluation  (MME),  payment  of  honorarium  to  Cook-cumHelper, construction of  kitchen-cum-stores, procurement of kitchen devices etc. During the year 2024-25, foodgrains to the tune of 26 lakh MTs at an approximate cost of Rs. 9,000 crore have been supplied by the Government of India through Food Corporation of India (FCI).

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ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1240 FOR 28.07.2025 RAISED BY SHRI SELVAGANAPATHI T.M., HON'BLE MP REGARDING HOT MEALS IN SCHOOLS UNDER PM-POSHAN SCHEME.

## MATERIAL COST UNDER PM POSHAN SCHEME

| Classes             |   Material Cost till 30.11.2024 (in Rs.) |   Material Cost w.e.f. 01.12.2024 (in Rs.) |   Material Cost w.e.f. 01.05.2025 (in Rs.) |
|---------------------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| Bal Vatika &Primary |                                     5.45 |                                       6.19 |                                       6.78 |
| Upper Primary       |                                     8.17 |                                       9.29 |                                      10.17 |