Midday meals for PU students at KPS from next academic year

Bengaluru: Come the next academic year, pre-university students at Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) will be served midday meals, confirmed the Department of School Education and Literacy.

The possibility of extending the midday meal scheme to all government and government-aided PU colleges was reportedly discussed at the preparatory meeting for the state budget wherein Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was in attendance. However, the CM and the Finance Department are learnt to have raised objections to this proposal.

While the Finance Department reportedly flagged the enormous cost of serving midday meals to PU students in all state-run and aided colleges, the CM pointed to logistical problems including the timings of the colleges.

“The CM pointed out that classes at PU colleges commence around 7.30am and end around noon. Therefore, the question of whether there was any need to serve them midday meals was raised,” said an official from the Department of School Education and Literacy.  

Since classes for students of nursery to second-year PU are offered on the same campus at KPS institutions, the proposal to serve midday meals to PU students at the KPS schools drew no objections, the official added.

“If we can get sponsors or funds under CSR initiatives or support from NGOs, the department is more than willing to extend the midday meal scheme to all PU colleges,” the official said.

Although nursery classes at government schools were started in the 2019-20 academic year, it is only since December 2025 that LKG and UKG students at state-run schools are being served midday meals.