What happened

Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan said Tamil Nadu is evaluating a proposal to serve chicken biryani once a week to students under the noon-meal scheme (school meals served during the day). Rajmohan said Tamil Nadu submitted a formal, data-supported request for review to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

Rajmohan also said Tamil Nadu plans to revamp the school breakfast menu. Rajmohan stated that the current breakfast allocation is about ₹15 per student and Tamil Nadu will replace repetitive items such as wheat and rava upma with alternatives described as more nutritious and appealing.

Rajmohan criticized the Union government for withholding education funds linked to policy and language disputes and called the withholding “unacceptable.”

Background and earlier position

Rajmohan said the noon-meal scheme in Tamil Nadu has changed across successive state leadership phases. Rajmohan stated that eggs were introduced in earlier phases of the noon-meal scheme.