Current Affairs - State - Discussion

Tamil Nadu expanded the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme to cover students of Classes VI to VIII. The expansion, launched on September 22, 2026, is expected to benefit approximately 15.30 lakh additional students across 15,454 government and state-aided schools. The scheme includes staples such as upma, kichadi and pongal, with millet-based dishes mandated twice a week. An additional ₹217.63 crore has been allocated for the current financial year, taking the total programme budget to ₹724 crore. The scheme is implemented through different agencies across urban, municipal and rural schools. It builds upon the earlier 2022 breakfast programme for Classes I to V.