The eastern state of West Bengal, India has stirred controversy by announcing plans to replace eggs with vegetarian alternatives in some school meals as part of a pilot project. Known as the midday meal programme, this scheme provides free cooked lunches to children in government and government-aided schools, serving as a crucial source of nutrition for millions of underprivileged students. The move has been criticized by opposition parties and nutritionists who argue that eggs are an essential and affordable source of protein for growing children, particularly those from lower-income households. The decision comes after the recently elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government handed meal preparation to International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), a Hindu group known for its vegetarian food policy. The controversy has reignited debates about what constitutes an appropriate school lunch and whether religious beliefs should dictate nutrition policy in India. The opposition All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) accused the BJP government of trying to impose vegetarianism on schoolchildren, while some suggest allowing students to choose between eggs and vegetarian alternatives. Defending the decision, West Bengal's Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asserted that the move aimed to provide students with "good and pure food," denying allegations of religious or ideological motivations. The controversy has also renewed focus on India's school meal scheme, a nationwide program launched in 1995 that serves over 110 million children, with state governments deciding how to meet nutritional targets set by the federal government. The row between West Bengal and Iskcon is not an isolated incident; similar controversies have arisen when other Indian states have attempted to limit or replace eggs in school meals.