Table 3.

The nutritional standards for children in the age group of 6 months to 3 years, age group of 3 to 6 years and pregnant women and lactating mothers required to be met by providing ‘take home rations’ or nutritious hot cooked meal in accordance with the integrated Child Development Services Scheme and nutritional standards for children in lower and upper primary classes under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, The National Food Security Act, 2013

Serial number	Category	Type of meal	Calories (kcal)	Protein (g)
1	Children (6 months to 3 years)	Take home ration	500	12–15
2	Children (3 to 6 years)	Morning snack and hot cooked meal	500	12–15
3	Children (6 months to 6 years) who are malnourished	Take home ration	800	20–25
4	Lower primary classes	Hot cooked meal	450	12
5	Upper primary classes	Hot cooked meal	700	20
6	Pregnant women and lactating mothers	Take home ration	600	18–20

g, gram; kcal, kilocalorie.

Ministry of Law and Justice (2013) The National Food Security Act, 2013. The Gazette of India, Government of India, New Delhi.