Thu Apr 10 17:01:20 UTC 2025: ## Midday Meal Scheme Gets ₹954 Crore Boost

**New Delhi, April 11, 2025** – The Indian government will increase funding for its midday meal scheme, PM-POSHAN, by ₹954 crore (approximately $115 million USD) in the 2025-26 financial year. The Ministry of Education announced a 9.5% increase in the material cost per meal, effective May 1st.

This hike will raise the daily cost of materials for balvatika (anganwadi) and primary school students from ₹6.19 to ₹6.78, and for upper primary students from ₹9.29 to ₹10.17. The ministry clarified that these are minimum rates, and states and union territories are free to contribute more.

The increase is based on inflation data provided by the Labour Bureau, using the Consumer Price Index – Rural Labourers (CPI-RL). The PM-POSHAN scheme currently provides hot meals to 11.2 crore students in 10.36 lakh schools nationwide. In addition to the increased material cost, the central government continues to provide approximately 26 lakh metric tonnes of food grains annually, covering 100% of the cost, including transportation. The total cost per meal, including food grains, will be around ₹12.13 for younger students and ₹17.62 for upper primary students. The scheme aims to improve nutrition and school attendance among children.

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