Mid Day Meal Scheme manual is available to download in PDF format at darpg.gov.in. The scheme, earlier known as the National Programme of Mid Day Meal in Schools, now runs under the name Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN). It provides one hot cooked meal to children on all school working days.
With a view to improving enrollment, retention and attendance and at the same time raising nutritional levels among children, the Mid Day Meal Scheme was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The manual acts as a guide for the District Collector and key district level functionaries to run the scheme well at the ground level.
Mid Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN)
The name of the Mid Day Meal Scheme has been changed to Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman Yojana (PM POSHAN). Under this scheme, the central government provides healthy and nutritious food to children. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that covers all school children studying in Classes 1st to 8th in government and government-aided schools, along with children in Bal Vatika (pre-primary) before Class 1.
The scheme was approved for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. Since its term ended on March 31, 2026, the Union government has extended it till September 30, 2026, or until the approval of the scheme for the next five year cycle of 2026-27 to 2030-31, whichever comes first.
Central support under the scheme includes free supply of food grains, subsidy on transportation cost, cooking cost, and management, monitoring and evaluation costs. For the financial year 2026-27, the budget allocation for PM POSHAN stands at Rs 12,750 crore.
Nutrition and Food Norms
New nutrition and food norms were released in July 2026. These are the minimum standards that every meal has to meet for primary and upper primary children.
| Norm per child per day | Primary Classes | Upper Primary Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 450 minimum | 700 minimum |
| Protein | 12 grams | 20 grams |
| Food grains | 100 grams | 150 grams |
| Pulses | 20 grams | 30 grams |
| Vegetables | 50 grams | 75 grams |
| Oil and fat | 5 grams | 7.5 grams |
States and Union Territories decide the local menu within these national norms. This lets schools serve food that matches local food habits and availability, including items such as millets, vegetables and condiments.
Manual for District Level Functionaries
The Development Manual for District Level Functionaries for the Mid Day Meal Scheme is hosted on the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) website at darpg.gov.in. The manual explains the role of the District Collector and other district level officers in planning, monitoring and reviewing the scheme.
It covers the key areas of implementation, including food grain management, cooking cost, quality checks, social audit and grievance handling. District officers can use this manual to make sure the scheme reaches every eligible child in the district.
Official Website and Monitoring
The Ministry of Education runs the official PM POSHAN portal at pmposhan.education.gov.in. There is also a separate MIS portal at pmposhan-ams.education.gov.in where schools report daily meal data, attendance and food grain stock.
The portal shows live reports on schools where meals were not served, where food grains were not available, and where cooking cost or cooks were not available. This helps district and state officers track the scheme closely and fix problems quickly.
FAQ's
Where can I download the Mid Day Meal Scheme manual PDF?
The Development Manual for District Level Functionaries for the Mid Day Meal Scheme is available on the DARPG website at darpg.gov.in. It is meant for the District Collector and district level officers.
Which children are covered under the Mid Day Meal Scheme?
The scheme covers children in Bal Vatika (pre-primary) and Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools. It provides one hot cooked meal on all school working days.
Is the Mid Day Meal Scheme still running in 2026?
Yes. The scheme, now called PM POSHAN, was extended till September 30, 2026, or until the approval of the next five year cycle of 2026-27 to 2030-31, whichever comes first.
What is the official website of PM POSHAN?
The official portal is pmposhan.education.gov.in. The MIS portal for daily meal and attendance reporting is pmposhan-ams.education.gov.in.
