Bihar Tightens Mid-Day Meal Staffing Rules, Sets One-Month Deadline to Fill Vacancies

Brief By Newsbrief / 2:45 PM on 05 May 2026

The Bihar Government has introduced stricter norms for appointing cooks and assistants under the mid-day meal scheme, mandating that staffing be aligned with actual student enrolment. Authorities have directed that vacancies across more than 71,000 schools be recalculated and filled within one month to prevent disruption in meal services.

The revised policy links staffing directly to updated school data uploaded on the government’s e-Shikshakosh portal, ensuring a more accurate and transparent system. Officials stated that delays beyond the one-month deadline will invite departmental action, with district-level officers held accountable.

The move replaces earlier norms that relied on fixed enrolment benchmarks, shifting toward real-time data-based decisions. By ensuring adequate staffing, the government aims to maintain uninterrupted delivery of meals, a crucial welfare initiative supporting student nutrition, attendance, and overall learning outcomes across the state.