The Akshaya Patra Foundation marked a major milestone on 17 March 2026 by celebrating the completion of five billion cumulative meals served to children across India. The event took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi and highlighted the organisation’s remarkable journey since its launch in 2000, when it began by feeding 1,500 children in five schools in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The celebration was attended by the Honourable President of India, Droupadi Murmu, who served as the Chief Guest, along with the Honourable Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, as Guest of Honour. Senior leaders of the Foundation, including Chairman Madhu Pandit Dasa and Vice Chairman Chanchalapathi Dasa, were also present to commemorate the occasion and reflect on the organisation’s 25 years of service.
In her address, President Murmu praised Akshaya Patra for its sustained contribution to tackling child malnutrition through the provision of mid-day meals and for encouraging children to remain in school. She emphasised that ensuring a safe and bright future for children is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the government and requires the active involvement of society as a whole. She also congratulated former beneficiaries of the programme who attended the event, expressing satisfaction at seeing them achieve their aspirations and contribute to national development.
The event, themed “Suposhit and Sushikshit Bharat for Viksit Bharat,” represented a significant moment in the Foundation’s history. What began with the simple aim of ensuring that no child near an ISKON temple went hungry has grown into a broader national mission to ensure that no child in India is deprived of education because of hunger. Today, Akshaya Patra serves 2.35 million children every day across the country, reflecting the scale and reach of its impact.
As the organisation celebrates 25 years of service, it also highlighted the importance of strong public-private partnerships in delivering large-scale social programmes effectively. The Foundation’s journey demonstrates how collaboration between institutions, communities, and stakeholders can help improve nutrition, support education, and contribute to India’s broader human development goals.
