What happened: Ministry of Education clarified PM POSHAN nutritional and food norms

The Ministry of Education stated the nutritional and food norms used under the PM POSHAN Scheme for children in Bal Vatika (just before class 1) and classes I to VIII of government and government-aided schools. The Ministry also described meal frequency, state/UT roles, the 5% flexi component for School Nutrition Gardens, and an evaluation finding reported through NITI Aayog in 2025-26.

Service delivery basics under PM POSHAN

Under the PM POSHAN Scheme, the scheme partners with State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations. The Ministry stated that State Governments and UT Administrations are responsible for providing one hot cooked meal to eligible children on all school working days. The Ministry also noted that States/UTs are encouraged to decide menus suitable to local conditions within the prescribed nutrition and food norms and to procure locally grown food items such as millets, vegetables, and condiments.

Background and earlier position: constitutional and implementation arrangement

The Ministry linked the administrative arrangement to the Constitution’s Concurrent List for education. It stated that most government schools and school boards are under State Governments and UT Administrations, and PM POSHAN is implemented in partnership with these authorities.

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