The Tamil Nadu government has floated nationwide electronic tenders for food ingredients required under the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme, as the programme's beneficiary count surpasses 34 lakh children enrolled in government and government-aided schools across the state. The procurement is designed to ensure uninterrupted delivery of the morning meal initiative for the three-month period beginning 1 January 2027.

What the tenders cover

According to the tender notification, the government proposes to procure 1,300 metric tonnes of double-roasted rava in one-kilogram packets, 1,200 metric tonnes of samba rava in one-kilogram packs, and 1,300 metric tonnes of semiya (vermicelli) in 200-gram packets — completing three categories of ingredients covered by the exercise. The procurement will be channelled through the state's consumer cooperative network. Tender documents were made available for download on 2 November, with 2 December set as the bid submission deadline. Suppliers from across India are eligible to participate in the electronic tendering process.

Scheme background and expansion

The programme traces its origins to the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme launched on 15 September 2022 under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government headed by M.K. Stalin. It was introduced to provide nutritious morning meals to primary schoolchildren, particularly those from economically disadvantaged families. Initially rolled out in select schools, the scheme was expanded in phases to cover all government primary schools before being extended to government-aided institutions, significantly broadening its reach.

In September 2026, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay extended coverage to students in Classes 6 to 8, bringing approximately 34.64 lakh children across 44,984 schools under the programme's ambit. The expansion required an additional allocation of ₹217.63 crore, raising the scheme's overall budget to ₹724 crore.

What the scheme delivers

The programme provides freshly prepared breakfasts — including pongal, upma, kichadi, and other nutritious dishes — before the school day begins. Its stated objectives are to prevent classroom hunger, raise nutritional standards, improve attendance, and help students concentrate on their studies.

Early results and outlook

An evaluation conducted by the State Planning Commission found improved attendance in 1,319 of the 1,543 schools surveyed, indicating encouraging early outcomes. This comes amid a broader national push to strengthen school nutrition programmes, with Tamil Nadu positioning the initiative as a model for reducing learning disruptions caused by hunger. The latest tender round is a logistical milestone, signalling the government's intent to sustain the programme's expanded scale through the upcoming quarter.