Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Uttar Pradesh Raises Cooks’ Honorarium Under PM Poshan
Uttar Pradesh gives schoolchildren hot and nutritious meals through the PM Poshan Yojana.
More than 1.46 crore children in 1.42 lakh schools receive these meals.
The meals include grains and provide energy and protein.
Children also get fruit, milk and some extra foods such as chikki and laddoos.
Many women help cook these meals.
Their monthly payment will increase by ₹1,000, reaching ₹3,000 in 2026-27.
Some schools grow vegetables and fruit in kitchen gardens for use in meals.
The government says it checks the programme through audits, task forces and daily monitoring.
Uttar Pradesh will raise the monthly honorarium for PM Poshan cooks by ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 in financial year 2026-27.
The scheme covers 1.42 lakh primary and upper primary schools and serves more than 1.46 crore children daily.
About 3.53 lakh cooks work under the scheme, with women comprising 93 percent of the workforce.
Children receive meals providing specified calories, protein, grains, milk, fruit and supplementary foods.
The state operates 136 centralized kitchens in 25 districts and uses audits and daily monitoring to oversee meal quality.
- Who
- The Uttar Pradesh government, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, PM Poshan cooks and more than 1.46 crore schoolchildren.
- What
- The state announced a ₹1,000 monthly honorarium increase for cooks and described measures to expand and monitor school meals.
- When
- The increase is planned for financial year 2026-27; the programme details also refer to activities during financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
- Where
- Across Uttar Pradesh, including 1.42 lakh schools and centralized kitchens in 25 districts.
- Why
- To strengthen cooks’ financial security and improve the nutrition, quality and oversight of school meals.
- Monthly cook honorarium
- ₹3,000 after a ₹1,000 increase in financial year 2026-27
- Cooks covered
- Approximately 3.53 lakh, of whom 93 percent are women
- Children served
- More than 1.46 crore students receive meals every day
- Schools covered
- 1.42 lakh primary and upper primary schools
- Primary-level meal nutrition
- 450 calories and 12 grams of protein from 100 grams of food grains
- Upper-primary meal nutrition
- 700 calories and 20 grams of protein from 150 grams of food grains
- Centralized kitchens
- 136 kitchens operate in 25 districts and serve approximately 10 lakh children