The Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme (now rechristened PM POSHAN) was born out of the realisation that a child who is either hungry or ill will not be able to reap the benefits of education and cannot be expected to learn.

On August 15, 1995, the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as a centrally sponsored scheme. In 2001, the Supreme Court of India directed the state governments and UT administrations to implement the scheme by providing cooked meals to children studying in government and government-aided schools.

What is the Purpose of the Mid-Day Meal Programme?

• Improving the nutritional status of children studying in government schools, government-aided schools, Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) centres, Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centres and locally funded schools
• Motivating children coming from socioeconomically weak backgrounds to attend school regularly and helping them focus on classroom activities
• Providing nutritional support to children of primary stage in drought-affected areas during summer vacation.The programme directly aligns with two critical Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and SDG 4 Quality Education.