The delivery of hot cooked midday meals in an urban city is done by:

Correct option is D

The Bulk Decentralised Mode is one of the key methods used for delivery of hot cooked midday meals in urban cities, especially under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in India. In this system, cooking is done in multiple schools or nearby clusters, and the food is served fresh and hot to students at the same location or transported a short distance.
It is ideal for densely populated urban areas, where it becomes easier and more practical to decentralize operations and ensure timely distribution of meals. This method ensures food safety, freshness, and minimum transportation time, reducing the risk of spoilage or contamination.
Information Booster:
· The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, under PM POSHAN, is aimed at improving nutrition and school attendance in government and aided schools.
· The bulk decentralised system is widely adopted in large urban centers where transportation and time management are critical.
· In some areas, women self-help groups (SHGs), school management committees (SMCs) or local kitchens participate in this model.
Additional Knowledge:
· Centralised service (a) – Incorrect:
· In this model, meals are prepared in a central kitchen and transported to various schools. Although used in some urban areas (e.g., Akshaya Patra), it is not the most common method for all urban regions due to logistics and distance constraints.
· Commissary system (b) – Incorrect:
· This system is more relevant to commercial food services like airlines or institutional catering, not typically used for midday meals in schools.
· Cook and chill method (c) – Incorrect:
· It involves cooking food, rapidly chilling it, and reheating before serving, commonly used in hospital or industrial catering, not school meal programs, as it compromises freshness and palatability for children.