The Government of India started Mid-Day Meal Scheme. With an aim to enhancing enrolment of children in schools, retention and increased attendance while also improving nutritional levels among children, the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on August 15, 1995. After some amendments, as per the expansion of the programme, the Government designed a set of rules and guidelines to be followed for implementation. These include various aspects related to child health and growth like the quantity of calories and proteins required for children from specific age groups, the quantity of grains that can be allotted to each child, and so forth.

The objectives of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme are:

• Improving the nutritional status of children in classes I-V in Government, Local Body and Government aided schools, and EGS and AIE centres.

• Encouraging children, belonging to disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.

• Providing nutritional support to children of primary stage in drought affected areas during summer vacation.

Source : https://www.archive.india.gov.in/sectors/education/index.php?id=7