Idli-sambar will soon be added to the midday meals served in Delhi government schools under a revised PM-POSHAN menu, with the dish expected to be introduced within two weeks. The Directorate of Education has directed schools and implementing agencies to make the necessary arrangements by August 24. The revised menu also changes several existing meal options, including replacing ragi halwa with wheat flour and chana masala and vegetable daliya with a preparation featuring jowar and bajra. The changes are aimed at revising the weekly school meal programme based on a review of existing provisions and feedback from stakeholders.

According to an order issued by the Directorate of Education on Monday, several dishes will be introduced or modified as part of the revised menu. The new options include poori served with black chana gravy, rice with chhole and mashed vegetables, poori with chhole, rice with dal and rice with kadhi. The changes will apply to meals provided under PM-POSHAN, the government school meal programme intended to provide nutritional support to eligible students. Schools and agencies responsible for implementing the programme have been instructed to make preparations for the revised menu within the prescribed timeline.

Among the changes, idli with sambar has been given a two-week transition period before it becomes part of the regular meal schedule. The education department said the additional time was necessary because preparing the South Indian dish requires specific equipment, specialised ingredients, dedicated infrastructure and trained manpower. Unlike several existing menu items that can be prepared using facilities already available in schools or kitchens, idli and sambar require different preparation arrangements. The department has therefore allowed schools and implementing agencies additional time to ensure that the necessary infrastructure and personnel are in place.

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The revised menu also seeks to introduce greater variety into meals served to students. Ragi halwa, which featured in the earlier menu, is being replaced with wheat flour and chana masala, while vegetable daliya is being replaced with jowar and bajra. Other revised combinations include rice with dal and rice with kadhi, as well as poori-based meals accompanied by chhole or black chana gravy. The inclusion of different grains and pulses is expected to provide students with a broader range of food options as the revised menu is implemented across Delhi government schools.

The Directorate of Education said the changes were recommended by the Meal Review Committee following an assessment of the existing weekly menu and its implementation. The committee considered factors including meal coverage, feedback from stakeholders and the experience of implementing the programme before recommending changes. The review was intended to assess how effectively the existing menu was meeting the requirements of the school meal programme and whether adjustments were needed. The revised menu is consequently based on an evaluation of the meals already being provided rather than being introduced as an isolated change.

Most of the revised menu will come into effect immediately, according to the education department's order, while idli-sambar will be introduced after the two-week preparation period. Schools and implementing agencies have been given until August 24 to make the required arrangements for the new dish. Once the transition is completed, students in Delhi government schools will have idli and sambar added to their school meals alongside the other revised dishes. The changes mark a broader update of the PM-POSHAN menu in the capital, with the Directorate of Education seeking to incorporate stakeholder feedback and implementation experience into the meals served to students.

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