# Chicken Biryani in School Lunch? Tamil Nadu’s Big Mid-Day Meal Makeover

URL: https://technosports.co.in/chicken-biryani-in-school-lunch/  
Published: 2026-07-30  
Updated: 2026-07-30  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

Forget wheat upma. Tamil Nadu’s school lunch menu might be getting its biggest upgrade in decades — and it comes with a side of biryani.

School Education Minister A. Rajmohan has submitted a formal proposal to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to serve **chicken biryani once a week** under the state’s noon meal scheme, covering roughly 40 lakh children in government and government-aided schools. The Chief Minister is currently reviewing the plan, and officials say no final call has been made yet.

## Why Chicken Biryani, Why Now

The push actually came from the ground up. Over 80 teachers’ unions raised the demand during a pre-budget meeting with the minister, asking for both better rice quality and a weekly biryani day — ahead of the Tamil Nadu budget on August 5. Rajmohan says the idea is backed by supporting data and aims to boost nutrition, make meals more exciting, and improve school attendance.

![Chicken Biryani](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/chcbcjckckc.jpg)

## A Legacy Built One Leader at a Time

| Leader | Contribution to School Meals |
| --- | --- |
| Justice Party | First introduced free student meals |
| K. Kamaraj | Launched the Mid-Day Meal Scheme statewide |
| M. Karunanidhi | Added eggs to the menu |
| M.G. Ramachandran | Expanded it into the Nutritious Meal Programme |
| J. Jayalalithaa | Increased egg supply through the week |
| C. Joseph Vijay (proposed) | Weekly chicken biryani |

## What Else Is on the Table

Alongside the biryani plan, the government wants to revamp the [Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-day_meal_scheme), currently running at about ₹15 per student, by swapping repetitive dishes like wheat and rava upma for more nutritious options. Any change will still need sign-off from the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department, which runs the noon meal programme alongside the Education Department.

Teachers’ associations have welcomed the move but want the scheme extended up to Class 12 — a step that could bring nearly 8 lakh more students under coverage.

Stay tuned to [Techno Sports](https://technosports.co.in) for more updates on policy stories shaping India’s states.

## The Bottom Line

If approved, it won’t just be a menu change — it’ll be a symbolic one, adding Vijay’s name to a list of Tamil Nadu leaders who’ve each left a mark on the state’s school meal legacy.

## FAQs

### **Q1. Has Tamil Nadu approved the weekly chicken biryani plan for schools?**

Not yet. The proposal is with Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for review, and no final decision has been announced.

### **Q2. How many students could benefit from this mid-day meal change?**

Around 40 lakh students currently covered by the scheme, with up to 8 lakh more possibly added if it’s extended to Class 12.