Delhi Government Schools Yet to Implement Revised PM-POSHAN Menu; Idli-Sambar Missing

Delhi government schools have yet to fully implement the revised weekly menu under the PM-POSHAN scheme, with idli-sambar still missing from students' meals nearly two months after the deadline set by the Directorate of Education (DoE).

The revised menu was announced in August 2026 for government and government-aided schools covered by the scheme. The department had directed implementing agencies to introduce idli with sambar by August 24, allowing a short transition period to arrange the equipment, ingredients and trained personnel required for preparation.

However, school representatives told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that kitchens were not adequately equipped to prepare the dish. In the meantime, students in the schools cited in the report continue to receive meals based on the earlier menu.

A response from the Directorate of Education on the implementation status was awaited at the time of reporting.

Why is idli-sambar unavailable in Delhi government schools?

The main obstacle reported by school representatives is the lack of specialised kitchen equipment needed to prepare idlis at scale.

A representative of the Government School Principals' Association said schools had not introduced idli-sambar because the required kitchen arrangements were not yet available.

A School Management Committee (SMC) member also said meals continued to follow the earlier menu, with dishes such as aloo-puri, curry-rice, halwa and dalia still being served.

Implementing the revised menu across multiple schools requires more than changing the list of approved dishes. Catering agencies must arrange equipment and ingredients, organise kitchen staff and ensure that food reaches schools on time.

These operational requirements have contributed to delays in introducing the revised meals, according to the school representatives quoted in the PTI report.

What is the revised PM-POSHAN menu in Delhi?

The Directorate of Education revised the six-day weekly menu in August following recommendations from its Meal Review Committee. The review considered the existing menu, meal coverage, feedback from stakeholders and implementation experience.

The revised menu includes the following meals:

The revised plan also changes some existing food items. Ragi halwa is replaced with wheat flour and chana masala, while vegetable dalia is replaced with jowar and bajra.

The changes are intended to revise the meals offered under the school nutrition programme while maintaining compliance with applicable nutritional standards.

August 24 deadline missed despite preparation period

The Directorate of Education instructed schools and implementing agencies to introduce most changes immediately, while allowing empanelled non-governmental organisations and centralised kitchen agencies up to two weeks to operationalise idli-sambar.

The additional time was intended to address requirements such as dedicated equipment, specialised ingredients, suitable infrastructure and trained manpower. The department set August 24, 2026, as the deadline for introducing the dish.

The order also clarified that agencies did not need to serve the same approved food item at every school on a particular day. Different schools could receive different approved meals depending on ingredient availability and logistical requirements.

However, each school was expected to follow the complete six-day revised menu. The continued reliance on the earlier menu, as reported by school representatives, therefore raises questions about compliance with the revised instructions.

How will Delhi schools monitor PM-POSHAN implementation?

The revised instructions provide for monitoring by zonal and district education officers. The department also directed that meal inspections and random food sampling should continue to assess food quality and nutritional adequacy.

Implementing agencies are expected to comply with the prescribed nutritional norms, food safety requirements and hygiene standards. The department's instructions also provide for compliance reporting and field verification following implementation.

The PM-POSHAN scheme supports the provision of hot cooked meals to eligible children in government and government-aided schools. Its implementation involves coordination between education authorities, schools and the agencies responsible for preparing and distributing meals.

The delay in introducing the revised menu highlights the practical challenges involved in changing food preparation arrangements across a large school network.

What happens next?

The Directorate of Education's response will be important in clarifying the current implementation status and whether additional measures are planned to address the equipment and staffing gaps.

Until further official information is available, the reported delay should be understood as an implementation issue identified by school representatives, rather than evidence that every Delhi government school is serving an identical menu.

The revised menu's full implementation will depend on schools and catering agencies putting the required arrangements in place while continuing to meet food safety and nutritional standards.