What this scheme offers
Anna Canteens serve breakfast, lunch and dinner for ₹5 each, so a person can eat three meals for ₹15 a day. The scheme began on 11 September 2018 after a 2016 pilot, was discontinued in 2019, and was relaunched by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on 15 August 2024. There are 205 canteens in towns and cities, about two lakh people eat there daily and over 7 crore had been served by December 2025, and about 70 more were planned for villages and district headquarters by January 2026. Breakfast is served from 7:30 to 10 am, lunch from 12:30 to 3 pm and dinner from 7:30 to 9 pm, Monday to Saturday in most listings. Anyone can eat — there is no registration or eligibility test — and the menu rotates daily, with idli or puri at breakfast and rice, curry, dal or sambar, curd and pickle at lunch and dinner.
Who is eligible
- Open to everyone — there is no income test, card or registration.
- Aimed at daily-wage workers, labourers, students, auto drivers and anyone who cannot easily afford a meal.
- Meals are served at fixed times; popular canteens can run out, so go early.
- Each meal costs ₹5, paid at the counter.
Documents required
- No documents are needed to eat at an Anna Canteen.
- ₹5 per meal, paid at the counter.
- Only those who want to sponsor or run a canteen need to follow the municipal department's instructions.
How to apply
- Find your nearest Anna Canteen — canteens are in towns and cities, with village canteens being added in 2026.
- Go during serving hours: breakfast 7:30–10 am, lunch 12:30–3 pm and dinner 7:30–9 pm.
- Pay ₹5 at the counter and collect your meal.
- Check the day's menu on the board; it rotates daily, with a special rice once a week.
- Raise any complaint with the municipal office of your town.