Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1265, answered on 08/12/2025, concerns the Mid-Day Meal Scheme. Shri Anto Antony inquired about requests/representations for introducing the scheme for 11th and 12th-grade students, specifically if any such request was received from the State Government of Kerala, and whether there are any plans to introduce the scheme for these grades nationwide, and the steps taken in this regard.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, stated that the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme, implemented in partnership with the States and Union Territories (UTs). It provides 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. The overall responsibility for providing hot cooked and nutritious meals to eligible children lies with State Governments and Union Territory (UT) Administrations.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme: A centrally sponsored scheme to provide hot cooked meals to children in Bal Vatika (just before class-I) and classes I to VIII in Government and Government-aided schools across States and Union Territories.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme: The subject of the parliamentary question, related to potential expansion for classes 11th and 12th.
Ministry of Education: The ministry responding to questions about the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and PM POSHAN Scheme.
Lok Sabha: The house of parliament to which the question was addressed.
Kerala: State Government that may have made requests related to the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1265
ANSWERED ON- 08/12/2025
Mid-Day Meal Scheme
1265. Shri Anto Antony:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received any request/representation regarding introduction
of Mid-day meal scheme for class 11th and 12th standard students in the country, if so, the
details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has received any request from the State Government of Kerala in
this regard;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;
(d) whether the Government has any plan to introduce Mid-day meal scheme for class 11th
and 12th students in the country; and
(e) if so, the details of the steps taken by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)
(a) to (e): 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 Union Territories (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. The overall responsibility for providing hot cooked and
nutritious meal to the eligible children lies with the State Governments and Union Territory
(UT) Administrations.
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