Delhi government schools still serving old PM-POSHAN menu; idli-sambar delayed since August

In short

Delhi government schools continue to serve meals from the old menu as of October 20, 2026.
The revised PM-POSHAN menu, including idli-sambar, was announced in August 2026.
Agencies were directed to operationalize idli-sambar by August 24, 2026, within two weeks of the August order.
Lack of specific equipment, logistical challenges, and insufficient kitchen infrastructure are cited as reasons for the delay.
The revised menu aimed to introduce items like idli-sambar and replace ragi halwa with wheat flour and chana masala.

Delhi government and government-aided schools have not yet implemented the revised PM-POSHAN menu, specifically the inclusion of idli-sambar, more than two months after it was announced in August 2026. Students in these schools are currently receiving meals if you look at the earlier menu, which features items such as aloo-puri, curry-rice, halwa, and dalia.

The non-implementation affects approximately 8.2 lakh students across 1,026 state-run schools and 178 aided schools in Delhi who receive midday meals under the PM-POSHAN scheme. The delay is attributed to a lack of specific equipment, logistical challenges, and insufficient infrastructure in school kitchens, according to authorities and school representatives.

Revised Pm-POSHAN Menu Remains Unimplemented

The Directorate of Education (DoE) issued an order in August 2026, outlining a revised weekly menu for the PM-POSHAN scheme. This new menu was intended to introduce a more varied diet for students, including idli-sambar, rice with chhole, poori with chhole, poori with black chana gravy and mashed vegetables, rice with chhole and mashed vegetables, rice with dal, and rice with kadhi. The DoE had directed schools and implementing agencies to make necessary arrangements, with idli-sambar specifically slated for introduction within two weeks of the August order, setting an operational deadline of August 24, 2026.

However, a member of the Government School Principals’ Association stated, “Idli-sambar has not been introduced in our schools so far. The preparation requires specific equipment and the kitchens do not have the necessary arrangements in place yet. Until these facilities are available, it will be difficult for schools to serve the dish as part of the regular meal.” An SMC member from a government school corroborated this, noting, “The food being served in the school is still according to the old menu. We have not seen the revised menu being implemented so far.”

Day	Meal Item
Day 1	Poori with black chana gravy and mashed vegetables
Day 2	Idli with sambar
Day 3	Rice with chhole and mashed vegetables
Day 4	Poori with chhole and mashed vegetables
Day 5	Rice with dal
Day 6	Rice with kadhi

Challenges in Operationalizing New Menu Items

Empanelled NGOs and centralized kitchen agencies, responsible for meal preparation and delivery, were given a maximum of two weeks to operationalize idli-sambar. This timeframe was provided to account for the need for specific equipment, specialized ingredients, dedicated infrastructure, and trained manpower required for the new dish. The DoE had clarified that agencies could serve different approved menu items in different schools on the same day, based on ingredient availability and logistical requirements, but mandated that all six days of the revised menu be followed in every school.

An SMC member highlighted the complexities involved, stating, “Suppose an agency is catering to 10 schools with around 800 students in total. Introducing a new item is not simply a matter of changing the menu on paper. The agency has to arrange the required equipment and ingredients, plan the preparation and ensure that meals reach all the schools on time. Such changes need coordination and is a bit challenging.” Zonal and district education officers were directed to monitor compliance with the new menu.

Pm-POSHAN Scheme and Nutritional Standards

The PM-POSHAN scheme, formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, is a central government program providing hot cooked meals to children in government and government-aided schools. Under the scheme, every primary school child is entitled to a meal containing 20g of pulses, 50g of vegetables, and 5g of oil or fat, providing approximately 12g protein and 450 calories. Upper primary children are entitled to 30g pulses, 75g vegetables, and 7.5g oil/fat, equating to approximately 20g protein and 700 calories.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the continuation of the PM-POSHAN scheme for the five-year period from 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a total scheme budget of 130794.90 crore. The scheme covers 11.80 crore children across 11.20 lakh schools nationwide. The Delhi government plans to hire an agency to test samples of cooked food and raw materials from schools, NGO kitchens, and FCI godowns to ensure quality.

MCD Schools Prepare for Menu Changes

In a related development, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools are preparing to introduce a more varied mid-day meal menu from November 2026. This new MCD menu will include items such as oats cookies, seasonal fruits, kheer, and sambar rice, while retaining popular meals like puri-aloo, dal-rice, chole-rice, rajma-rice, and kadhi-rice. Wheat and ragi halwa will also be offered twice a week.

The MCD plans to select 13 new kitchen agencies after inspections to cater to its 1,500 schools. Food from MCD agencies is currently tested using five third-party laboratories, with four samples taken monthly from each agency: three from served food and one from the kitchen. The PM-POSHAN scheme was renamed in September 2021 and extended to cover pre-primary students, connecting to the Right to Food and India’s obligations under the National Food Security Act, 2013, and POSHAN Abhiyaan.