After depriving students for two years, Telangana govt to revive BRS’ breakfast scheme in schools

Hyderabad: After depriving students of their first morning meal in schools for two academic years, the State government has now decided to revive the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, which was launched by the previous BRS government. However, the scheme will not be implemented from this academic year but from the forthcoming academic year i.e., 2026-27.
The School Education Department recently sent a proposal to the government, seeking approval to implement the breakfast scheme in all government and local body schools in the State.
The proposal, as per official sources, includes rice items like pongal, khichdi or pulihora thrice a week, upma twice and either idli or Mysore bonda once a week. Once the government gives a nod for the proposal, breakfast will be served to students from June 12, 2026.
It may be noted here that the CM’s Breakfast Scheme was launched by the previous BRS government in October 2023 to ensure that students do not start their day on an empty stomach. After commencing in 119 schools, with one school in each Assembly constituency, the then government expanded the scheme to 3,500 schools. It planned to expand further to all 27,147 government and local body schools across the State and allocated Rs 672 crore for the same.
Earlier, there were instances of students fainting in the morning assembly session as they used to skip breakfast due to various reasons. This initiative of the BRS government had reaped rich results. The scheme not just addressed hunger issues among students but also aided in increasing attendance significantly.
However, due to elections to the Legislative Assembly and after change in the government, with Congress party coming to power, the scheme came to a halt due to lack of allocation and release of funds for two academic years, resulting in discontinuation of the scheme.
In fact, BRS working president KT Rama Rao urged the Congress government to revive the CM’s Breakfast Scheme, citing a Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission report, which highlighted its positive impact on children’s health and education after the scheme was launched in Tamil Nadu.
“We have sent a proposal to the government for reviving the breakfast scheme from the next academic year. We do not know whether the scheme’s name will be retained or a new name will be announced,” said a senior official.
Proposed breakfast menu from next academic year
• Rice items like pongal, khichdi or pulihora thrice a week
• Upma twice a week
• Idli or Mysore bonda once a week
Earlier breakfast menu
• Monday: Idli and sambar or wheat rava upma and chutney
• Tuesday: Puri and aloo kurma or tomato bath with sambar
• Wednesday: Upma and sambar or rice rava khichdi and chutney
• Thursday: Millet idli and sambar or pongal and sambar
• Friday: Uggani/poha/millet idli and chutney or wheat rava khichdi and chutney
• Saturday: Pongal and sambar or vegetable pulao with raita or aloo kurma