Bihar, UP, West Bengal lead PM POSHAN beneficiaries

Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal have the highest number of beneficiaries under the PM POSHAN scheme, according to the education ministry. Bihar leads with over 17.3 million beneficiaries, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 16.4 million and West Bengal with 11.3 million. The PM POSHAN scheme provides nutritious meals to children in government and aided schools, aiming to reduce malnutrition and improve school attendance. In 2024-25, around 112 million children across 1.036 million institutions are expected to benefit from the program. State governments are responsible for meal provision, with guidelines allowing local adaptations. The scheme encourages the use of local food sources and the involvement of women’s self-help groups in meal preparation.