In an effort to strengthen the PM POSHAN Scheme, the Ministry of Education has enhanced the ‘Material Cost’ by 9.50 per cent. The new rates will be applicable across all the states/UTs from May 1, it was announced on Thursday ( 10 April 2025).

Key Points

• The Government increased the material cost for midday meals from Rs.6.19 to Rs.6.78 per student per day for those enrolled in kindergarten and primary schools (classes 1 to 5) and from Rs. 9.29 to Rs.10.17 for students in upper primary schools (classes 6 to 8).
• The Union education ministry, in a statement, said it has increased the material cost of the centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme (formerly midday meal scheme) by 9.5 % on the basis of inflation index provided by the labour ministry.
• The central government will bear the additional cost of Rs.954 crore approximately in FY 2025-26 due to this enhancement.
• The new rates will be applicable across the country from May 1.