PM POSHAN - Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment

Description
PM POSHAN is a centrally sponsored scheme by the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education. Under this scheme, one hot cooked meal will be provided to the children studying in Government and Government – aided schools. The Scheme is implemented across the country covering all the eligible children without any discrimination of gender and social class. The main objectives of the PM POSHAN Abhiyaan are to address two of the pressing problems for the majority of children in India, viz. hunger and education by improving the nutritional status of eligible children in Government and Government-aided schools as well as encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities. POSHAN Abhiyaan is one of the many schemes under the umbrella scheme "Integrated Child Development Services Scheme ICDS ". ICDS also includes Anganwadi Services Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls.

Exclusions
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Benefits
• Nutrition norm per child per day:
• Primary: Calorie – 450; Protein - 12 gms
• Upper Primary: Calorie – 700; Protein - 20 gms
• Food norms per child per day:
• Primary: Food grains - 100 gms; Pulses - 20 gms; Vegetables - 50 gms; Oil & fat - 5 gms, Salt & condiments - As per need.
• Upper Primary: Food grains - 150 gms; Pulses - 30 gms; Vegetables - 75 gms; Oil & fat – 7.5 gms, Salt & condiments - As per need.
• Under the Scheme, there is the provision of hot cooked meals to children of pre-schools or Bal Vatika (before class I) in primary schools also in addition to the 11.80 crore children of classes I to VIII studying in 11.20 lakh schools.

Eligibility Criteria
1. The applicant must be a citizen of India.
2. The applicant must be studying in a Primary or Upper Primary class (Class 1st to Class 8th) in a Government or a Government-aided school.

Application Process
Step 1: There is no application process for this scheme. PM POSHAN is equally applicable to all children who are studying in Government and Government – aided schools.
Offline

There is no application process for this scheme. PM POSHAN is equally applicable to all children who are studying in Government and Government – aided schools.

Required Documents
• No documents are required for availing the benefits of this scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is PM POSHAN Scheme?
A: **PM POSHAN** is a centrally sponsored scheme by the **Ministry of Education** that provides hot cooked meals to children studying in Government and Government-aided schools to improve their nutritional status and encourage **regular school attendance**.

Q: Who is eligible to benefit from PM POSHAN?
A: **All children studying in:**

- Pre-school (**Bal Vatika**) within primary schools- **Class** **1 to Class 8**
in Government or Government-aided schools are eligible. There is no need to apply for the scheme.

Q: What kind of meals are provided under this scheme?
A: The scheme provides one **hot cooked meal** per school day that meets specific calorie and protein norms. The meal includes food **grains, pulses, vegetables, oil/fat, and condiments.**

Q: What are the nutrition norms per child per day under PM POSHAN?
A: - **Primary (Class 1–5):**


1. Calories: 450 kcal
1. Protein: 12 grams


- **Upper Primary (Class 6–8):**


1. Calories: 700 kcal
1. Protein: 20 grams

Q: What are the food quantity norms per child per day?
A: - **Primary:**


1. Food grains: 100 g
1. Pulses: 20 g
1. Vegetables: 50 g
1. Oil &amp; fat: 5 g


- **Upper Primary:**


1. Food grains: 150 g
1. Pulses: 30 g
1. Vegetables: 75 g
1. Oil &amp; fat: 7.5 g

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(Salt &amp; condiments as per need)

Q: Is there any discrimination based on caste, religion, or gender under PM POSHAN?
A: **No**. The scheme is **universal and inclusive**, and benefits are provided to **all eligible children** without any discrimination.

Q: Is there an application process for this scheme?
A: **No application** is required. **All eligible children** automatically receive the benefits as **part of their school** program.

Q: What is the objective of PM POSHAN Scheme?
A: **The scheme aims to:**

- Enhance nutrition for **school children**- Encourage school **attendance**- Improve concentration and learning outcomes
- Promote **social equity** through common meals

Q: Is this scheme part of a broader initiative?
A: **Yes**, PM POSHAN operates under the umbrella of the Integrated Child Development Services (**ICDS**), which includes:

- **Anganwadi** **Services Scheme**- **Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana**
- **Scheme for Adolescent Girls**

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Q: How many children and schools are covered under PM POSHAN?
A: The scheme benefits approximately more than **11.80 crore children** across **11.20 lakh schools** throughout India, making it one of the world’s largest school nutrition programs.