Lok Sabha Question No. 3729 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Budget Allocation for PM POSHAN
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO3729

ANSWERED ON- 16.03.2026

## Budget Allocation for PM POSHAN

3729. Shri Balashowry Vallabhaneni:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of aims and objectives of PM POSHAN and allocation of Budget and expenditure for the scheme in 2025-26 in the country;

(b) the number of cases of food adulteration reported in the country and the action taken on the same by the Government during the current financial year, State/UT-wise;

(c) whether it is a fact that schools covered under PM POSHAN in Andhra Pradesh have come down from 45,545 in 2020-21 to 43,900 in 2024-25, if so, the reasons therefor; and

(d) the number of schools covered in Andhra Pradesh under PM POSHAN in 2025-26, districtwise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d): Education is in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and most of the Government Schools  and  School  Boards  are  under  the  administration  of  the  State  Governments  and  Union Territory (UT) Administrations. 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.

A sum of Rs. 10,600 crore was allocated during Financial Year 2025-26 and Rs. 8,947.88 crore was released to various States/ UTs till 11.03.2026. The overall responsibility for smooth functioning of the scheme including providing hot cooked and nutritious meal to the eligible children as well as engagement of cook-cum-helpers (CCHs) lies with the States/ UTs. The objectives of the Scheme are to address two of the pressing problems for majority of children in India, viz. hunger and education by:

- i) Improving the nutritional status of children studying in Bal Vatika (just before class I) and classes I-VIII in Government and Government-Aided Schools without any discrimination.
2. ii) Encouraging  poor  children,  belonging  to  disadvantaged  sections,  to  attend  school  more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.
3. iii) Providing nutritional support to children of elementary stage in drought / disaster affected areas during summer vacation and disaster times.

During 2025-26, a total of three (03) cases of food adulteration were reported under PM POSHAN Scheme including two (02) in Rajasthan and one (01) in Delhi. All the children reported ill during these incidents were treated and discharged from hospital and no casualty was reported. The actions in  these  cases  include  warning  to  the  concerned  NGOs  and  officers  responsible,  initiation  of departmental proceedings against Principals, Head Masters, suspension & transfer of erring officials & Cook-cum-Helpers and cancellation of contract of suppliers.

The State Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that, the number of schools have come down from  2020-21  to  2024-25  due  to  various  reasons  like  merger  of  aided  schools  during  2021-22, consolidation  of  schools  during  2022-23,  temporary  closure  of  schools  due  to  no  enrolment, permanent  closure  of  schools  due  to  non-viability  and  no  enrolment  for  more  than  3  years.  The district-wise  number  of  schools  covered  under  PM  POSHAN  Scheme  in  Andhra  Pradesh  is  at Annexure-I.

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## ANNEXURE-I

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (A)  TO  (D)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3729 FOR 16.03.2026 RAISED BY SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI,  HON'BLE  MP  REGARDING  BUDGET  ALLOCATION  FOR  PM POSHAN.

## Number of schools covered under PM POSHAN Scheme in Andhra Pradesh

| S. No.   | District      |   Number of Schools |
|----------|---------------|---------------------|
| 1        | Anakapalli    |                1396 |
| 2        | Anantapur     |                1678 |
| 3        | Annamayya     |                2086 |
| 4        | Asr           |                2651 |
| 5        | Bapatla       |                1383 |
| 6        | Chittoor      |                2380 |
| 7        | East Godavari |                 973 |
| 8        | Eluru         |                1705 |
| 9        | Guntur        |                1052 |
| 10       | Kadapa        |                1926 |
| 11       | Kakinada      |                1245 |
| 12       | Konaseema     |                1554 |
| 13       | Krishna       |                1336 |
| 14       | Kurnool       |                1422 |
| 15       | Manyam        |                1480 |
| 16       | Nandyal       |                1352 |
| 17       | Nellore       |                2487 |
| 18       | Ntr           |                 897 |
| 19       | Palnadu       |                1517 |
| 20       | Prakasam      |                2302 |
| 21       | Sri Satyasai  |                1985 |
| 22       | Srikakulam    |                2534 |
| 23       | Tirupati      |                2206 |
| 24       | Visakhapatnam |                 582 |
| 25       | Vizianagaram  |                1719 |
| 26       | West Godavari |                1381 |
| Total    | Total         |               43229 |