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India
oi-Ashish Rana
The Uttar Pradesh government has increased the monthly honorarium of cooks working under the school mid-day meal programme by Rs 1,000. With the latest decision, around 3.53 lakh cooks across the state will now receive Rs 3,000 per month instead of Rs 2,000. The revised amount will come into effect from September 2026 and is expected to be paid with the October honorarium.
The Uttar Pradesh government increased the monthly honorarium for 3.53 lakh mid-day meal cooks by Rs 1,000 to Rs 3,000, effective September 2026. This decision impacts cooks in 1.41 lakh government and aided schools across the state.
3.53 Lakh UP School Cooks To Benefit
The decision was approved by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath through a cabinet-by-circulation process. According to the reported figures, the increase will put an additional burden of around Rs 35.35 crore on the state government every month, or approximately Rs 424 crore annually.
These cooks prepare meals for students in around 1.41 lakh government and aided schools. The reported coverage is about 1.46 crore students, making the cooks an important part of the state’s school nutrition system.
How The Honorarium Has Increased
The honorarium has been raised several times over the years. Cooks initially received Rs 1,000 per month. It was increased to Rs 1,500 in 2019 and then to Rs 2,000 in 2022. The latest Rs 3,000 amount marks another Rs 1,000 increase.
At the national level, the PM POSHAN scheme provides a separate honorarium component for cook-cum-helpers, while states can contribute additional funds over the prescribed central assistance.
Why The 2026 Hike Matters
The government has increased this after cooks demanded for better payment. The latest revision is significant because many of these workers are directly involved in preparing meals for children every school day.
Along with the monthly honorarium, cooks in Uttar Pradesh are also reported to receive Rs 500 for uniforms and Rs 400 for gloves. The government has also been expanding welfare measures for workers associated with the school meal programme.
The revised honorarium will now be implemented through the Basic Education Department. The increase payment will be reflected in the next month October 2026 salary that will allow UP’s 3.53 lakh schools cooks a better higher monthly payment.
