The free school breakfast scheme started under the previous government has not been dropped. It has been renamed and enlarged. Now called the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, after the former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, it covers Classes 1 to 8 in government and government-aided schools. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the extension to Classes 6 to 8 at a government middle school in Gandhi Gramam, Thiruvanmiyur, AIR News reported on 22 September 2026.
According to AIR, the extension added about 15.30 lakh students in 15,454 schools. The state set aside an extra ₹217.63 crore for it, taking the scheme’s total budget to ₹724 crore. Here is what the change means for Chennai children and their parents.
From CM’s breakfast to Kamarajar breakfast
The scheme began in 2022 as the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme for primary classes and was later extended to government-aided schools. In June 2026 the new government said it would take the scheme up to Class 8, with the first phase starting around 17 September, ETV Bharat reported. The new name followed, UNI reported. The monitoring app has also been renamed, from CM BFS to PKBFS.
At the Thiruvanmiyur school where it was launched, the number of children eating breakfast rose from 127 to 199 once the middle classes were included, Deccan Chronicle reported. Most Chennai schools with Classes 6 to 8 will have seen a similar jump. AIR reported that the extension was not rolled out in Chengalpattu and Tiruppur districts because the model code of conduct for by-elections was in force there.
What is on the plate
A DT Next explainer sets out the weekly menu:
| Day | Breakfast |
|---|---|
| Monday | Upma variety with vegetable sambar |
| Tuesday | Vegetable kichadi variety |
| Wednesday | Pongal variety with vegetable sambar |
| Thursday | Upma variety with vegetable sambar |
| Friday | A sweet such as kesari or sweet pongal, with a savoury item |
Millet-based dishes are served at least twice a week. Each child’s portion uses about 50 g of rice, rava, wheat rava or semiya and 15 g of pulses, which makes 150 to 200 g of cooked food. A committee that includes a chef, educationists and doctors is reviewing the menu to add more protein. Any new dishes will be tried in a few places before being rolled out across the state. For now, the menu above is unchanged.
How it works in Chennai
Chennai does it differently from most districts. In rural areas, women’s self-help groups cook in kitchens at each school. In the city, the Greater Chennai Corporation runs central kitchens that send breakfast to 447 government and aided schools, according to the DT Next explainer. Breakfast is meant to be eaten before the first class. The Corporation’s school welfare measures also include evening snacks with pulses for students in special coaching classes.
Parents do not need to apply. A child enrolled in Classes 1 to 8 at a government or aided school is covered automatically, and the school records the daily count from attendance. Private unaided schools are not part of the scheme.
What parents can do
The scheme only works if children arrive in time to eat. Breakfast is served before the first class, so a child who reaches school just as the bell goes may miss it. If your child has a food allergy or cannot eat a particular item, tell the class teacher in writing. The menu is the same for every child, but the school should know about any medical condition.
For children who are moving up to Class 6 at a Corporation or government middle school, this is new. Until last year they would have stopped getting breakfast after Class 5. Children in Classes 9 to 12 are still not covered, so older siblings will need breakfast at home.
Checking quality and raising complaints
Meals are tracked through the PKBFS app and a central dashboard. District officials make surprise early-morning visits, and School Management Committees made up of parents, teachers and local members are meant to check kitchen hygiene and storage. If your child’s breakfast is late, not what the menu says, or of poor quality:
- Raise it first with the headmaster or your School Management Committee representative.
- If nothing changes, call the CM Helpline on 1100 or use its portal or app. Give the school’s name and the date.
- Keep the tracking ID. The complaint is sent to the block, municipal or district education officer concerned.
Quick answers
Is the breakfast scheme still running in 2026?
Yes. It has been renamed the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme and now covers Classes 1 to 8.
Do private school students get it?
No. Only government and government-aided schools are covered.
Who cooks the food in Chennai?
Greater Chennai Corporation’s central kitchens, which serve 447 schools in the city.
How do I complain about the food?
Speak to the school first, then call the CM Helpline on 1100 and note your tracking ID.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Tamil Nadu CM expands Kamarajar breakfast scheme to benefit 15.3 lakh students (AIR News)
- Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme: menu, eligible schools, monitoring and helpline (DT Next)
- CM Vijay launches expansion of breakfast scheme (Deccan Chronicle)
- Govt school breakfast scheme extended up to Class VIII (ETV Bharat)
- Breakfast scheme renamed by Vijay government (UNI)
- Over 25K new students admitted to Corporation schools (DT Next)
