Official Documents

Entitlements

The National Food Security Act, 2013 guarantees children aged 6-14 years or up to Class VIII, one free mid-day meal every day (except on school holidays) in all schools run by local bodies, government and government aided schools to meet the following nutritional standards

Every school shall have facilities for cooking meals, drinking water and sanitation.

In urban areas facilities of centralised kitchens for cooking meals may be used, wherever required, as per the guidelines issued by the Central Government.

Eligibility

Currently, all children enrolled in the following schools are entitled to mid-day meals:

Government schools

Government-aided schools

Schools run by local bodies

Education Guarantee Schools (EGS)

Alternate and Innovative Education (AIE) centres

Madarsas and Maqtabs supported under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan

National Child Labour Project (NCLP) schools

Supreme Court Orders

Most of the provisions of earlier Supreme Court orders on midday meals are included in the National Food Security Act 2013. However, these orders (which are not superseded by the Act) include some additional provisions.

28 November 2001 | 2 May 2003 | 20 April 2004

Official Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Guidelines issued by the Government of India in 1995, revised in 2006

Detailed Guidelines and Circulars

Useful Links

Website:

Mid Day Meal Scheme

Ministry of Human Resource Development

Contacts (Central Government):

Minister (Human Resource Development)

Secretary (Human Resource Development)