Parliament Question: Nutritional Standards under the PM POSHAN Scheme

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1265 ANSWERED ON- 27.07.2026 Nutritional Standards under the PM POSHAN Scheme

1265. Shri Abhishek Banerjee:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a) the details of States/Union Territory providing eggs under the PM POSHAN Scheme during the last five years, including the number of beneficiary children covered and the frequency of egg supply, State/UT and year-wise;

(b) whether the Government maintains data on States, districts or implementing agencies where eggs have been withdrawn, reduced or replaced by vegetarian substitutes, if so, the reasons therefor and the number of children affected;

(c) whether the Government has assessed the nutritional impact of such withdrawal or substitution, particularly on underweight, stunting and anaemia among children, if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has issued guidelines to ensure that school meals are based on scientific nutritional standards while respecting local dietary practices and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) whether nutritional equivalence standards have been prescribed for substitutes provided in place of eggs under the PM POSHAN Scheme, if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (e): Education is part of the Concurrent List of the Constitution and most of the Government Schools and School Boards are under the administration of the State Government and Union Territory (UT) Administrations. PM POSHAN Scheme is implemented in partnership with the State Governments and UT Administrations. The overall responsibility for providing hot and nutritious meal to all children studying in Bal Vatika (just before class 1) and classes I to VIII of Government and Government aided schools lies with the State Governments and UT Administrations. The States and UTs are encouraged to decide menu suitable to the local conditions within the prescribed nutrition and food norms and to procure locally grown food items like millets, vegetables, condiments etc.Under the PM Poshan Scheme, one hot cooked meal is provided to all eligible children on all school working days. As per the provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013 and the Guidelines of the Scheme, the nutritional and food norms prescribed under the Scheme are as follows:

For children of Primary For children of Upper Primary Items classes classes A) Nutritional Norms (Per child per day) Calorie 450 700 Protein 12 gms 20 gms B) Quantum of Food Norms (Per child per day) Food-grains 100 gms 150 gms Pulses 20 gms 30 gms Vegetables 50 gms 75 gms Oil & fat 5 gms 7.5 gms Salt & condiments As per need As per need Further, there is a provision of 5% of total recurring budget as the flexi component to be used by the States/UTs for setting up of School Nutrition Gardens (SNGs) and provision of supplementary nutrition interventions in identified districts. Many States/ UTs also provide additional supplementary nutrition keeping in view local food habits, cultural preferences, availability and dietary practices.

Regarding the impact of PM Poshan Scheme, NITI AAYOG has conducted the evaluation of the Scheme through independent third-party agency in 2025-26. The study concluded that the PM POSHAN scheme has a positive impact on improving child nutrition and boosting learning outcomes.

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