Maarg Manthan · Topic 19.13

Rashtriya Gokul Mission (Indigenous Cattle Breed Development)

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › National Missions and Flagship Programmes · Topic 19.13

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is a Central Sector scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, launched in December 2014 to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds and raise milk productivity. It supports Gokul Grams, national breeding centres, artificial insemination, sex-sorted semen, in vitro fertilisation and genomic selection. The scheme was revised in March 2025 with an added Rs 1,000 crore, bringing its allocation for the 15th Finance Commission cycle, 2021-22 to 2025-26, to Rs 3,400 crore, with 35 per cent one-time assistance for heifer rearing centres and centres of excellence for breeding.

6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · National Missions and Flagship Programmes

At a Glance

Launched December 2014
Ministry Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying)
Type Central Sector scheme
Revised outlay Rs 3,400 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26, approved March 2025
Focus Indigenous cattle breed conservation and productivity
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: National Missions and Flagship Programmes

Where Does It Fit?

This topic closes the macro with a livestock mission. It connects with the dairy sector and rural incomes. Like other missions of the macro it is a mix of breeding technology, infrastructure and farmer support. Previous topic: National Critical Mineral Mission. Next topic: MyGov Portal.

What Are the Main Components of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

Component	What it does
Gokul Grams	Integrated indigenous cattle centres in the native tract of breeds, where breeds are bred and conserved and farmers learn good practices
National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres	Two centres, in Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, for scientific breeding of indigenous breeds and for supply of germplasm
Artificial insemination	The National Artificial Insemination Programme takes breeding services to the doorstep of farmers through trained technicians
Sex-sorted semen	Semen that produces mostly female calves, which raises the number of heifers and milk output
IVF and embryo transfer	Use of in vitro fertilisation to multiply high-yielding animals of indigenous breeds
Genomic selection	Use of DNA information to pick the best bulls and cows, supported by a national genomic centre for indigenous breeds

Which Breeds and Numbers Matter?

Indigenous cattle breeds: well-known breeds include Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Rathi, Kankrej and Ongole. The country has dozens of registered indigenous breeds
Livestock count: the 20th Livestock Census of 2019 counted about 192.5 million cattle, a large share of them indigenous
Milk output: India is the largest producer of milk in the world, with production of about 24 crore tonnes in 2023-24, as reported by the Government
Productivity gap: average yield of indigenous cattle is lower than that of crossbred cattle, so improvement through selection is a main goal
Digital tools: e-Pashu Haat, a portal for buying and selling germplasm, and the Bharat Pashudhan database track animals with ear tags
Revised scheme: the March 2025 revision adds 35 per cent one-time capital assistance for heifer rearing centres and support for centres of excellence for livestock breeding
Reported reach: the Government reported that about 8.39 crore animals had been covered and about 5.21 crore farmers had benefited under the scheme, which are official claims
Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog: an advisory body set up in 2019 to guide policy on cow welfare and breed development

What Else Should You Remember?

Full form and alias: Rashtriya Gokul Mission, written RGM, part of the umbrella scheme for livestock development
Evolution: the mission was launched in December 2014 and was continued in later cycles with a larger outlay, under the umbrella of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and Development Programmes
Latest status: the 15th Finance Commission cycle ends in 2025-26, so check the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for continuation or a new approval for the next cycle
Difference from other schemes: the National Livestock Mission supports entrepreneurship in livestock, and the National Programme for Dairy Development supports milk infrastructure. RGM focuses on breeds
Foot and mouth disease: a separate vaccination programme targets disease control, since disease hurts yield
Constitutional link: Article 48 asks the State to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern lines and to prohibit the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle
Criticism: critics note that a focus on indigenous breeds alone can limit income for farmers if yield is low, and that stray cattle remain a problem in many states
Stray cattle: the scheme supports breeding and not shelters, so the problem of abandoned male calves needs other measures such as sex-sorted semen
Women and dairying: a large share of dairy work is done by women, and cooperative models such as Amul show how milk collection helps them
Link with rural livelihood: dairying is a source of regular income for small farmers, and it connects with rural programmes such as those in Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Ministry and launch: Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, December 2014
Type: a Central Sector scheme
Components: Gokul Grams, NKBCs, AI, sex-sorted semen, IVF, genomic selection
Breeds: Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar are indigenous. Jersey and Holstein Friesian are exotic
Common errors: calling it a centrally sponsored scheme, or confusing it with the White Revolution of Operation Flood

As an analytical point, the mission aims to raise yield of local breeds while keeping their traits such as heat tolerance and disease resistance. Its success depends on reaching small farmers with good breeding services and on a clear plan for unproductive and stray cattle.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Agriculture Allied sector
Facts Components and breeds
Income Dairy and small farmers

What Came Next?

The next macro covers government portals, apps and digital platforms, beginning with MyGov Portal. Next topic: MyGov Portal.

Key People and Terms

RGM Rashtriya Gokul Mission
Indigenous breed Native breed of the region
AI Artificial insemination
Sex-sorted semen Semen giving mostly female calves
Heifer Young female cow before first calf
NKBC National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched December 2014.
Central Sector scheme, DAHD.
Revised outlay Rs 3,400 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Two NKBCs: Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
35 per cent assistance for heifer rearing centres.

Do Not Confuse With

Rashtriya Gokul Mission and Operation Flood Breed conservation versus a milk cooperative movement
Rashtriya Gokul Mission and National Livestock Mission Breeding versus entrepreneurship support
Indigenous and crossbred cattle Native breeds versus those with foreign blood

Memory Hook

Gir and Sahiwal, sorted semen in a tube: Gokul grows the herd of the native cube.

Mains Angle

Questions ask how breed improvement can raise rural income. These points give a balanced frame.

Benefits Breed conservation, income, productivity
Challenges Low yield, strays, reach
Way forward Genomics, extension, shelters policy

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the role of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission in conserving indigenous breeds and raising dairy productivity, and highlight the challenges.”

How to Answer

Context Dairy and native breeds.
Mission Components and outlay.
Benefits Yield and conservation.
Challenges Strays and reach.
Way Genomics and extension.

GS Relevance

Prelims: nodal ministry, components, indigenous breeds. GS Paper 3: agriculture and allied sectors, animal rearing economics, dairy, food security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is a Central Sector scheme launched in December 2014 by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds and raise milk productivity. It supports Gokul Grams, breeding centres, artificial insemination, sex-sorted semen, IVF and genomic selection.

Which ministry runs the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying runs the mission. It is a Central Sector scheme, so it is funded fully by the Union Government, and it forms part of the umbrella scheme for development programmes in the livestock sector.

What is the revised outlay of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

The Union Cabinet approved a revised mission on 19 March 2025 with an added Rs 1,000 crore, bringing the total allocation for the 15th Finance Commission cycle, 2021-22 to 2025-26, to Rs 3,400 crore. The revision added 35 per cent one-time assistance for heifer rearing centres and centres of excellence for breeding.

What are Gokul Grams and National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres?

Gokul Grams are integrated indigenous cattle centres set up in the native tract of breeds for breeding, conservation and farmer training. National Kamdhenu Breeding Centres are two large centres, in Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, for scientific breeding of indigenous breeds and supply of germplasm.

What is the latest status of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission?

The scheme was revised in March 2025 for the cycle ending in 2025-26, and the Government reported about 8.39 crore animals covered and 5.21 crore farmers benefited. With the cycle ending, readers should check the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying for continuation or approval of a new phase.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched in 2014.

True

It began in December 2014.

2 It is a centrally sponsored scheme.

False

It is a Central Sector scheme.

3 Gir is an indigenous cattle breed.