The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is being implemented since December 2014 for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population, and enhancement of milk productivity and production. Scheme is crucial for upliftment of rural poor as more than 80% low producing indigenous animals are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers. The scheme is important in enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines to meet growing demand of milk and making dairying more remunerative to the rural farmers of the country. The scheme is leading to multiplication of elite animals of indigenous breeds and increased availability of indigenous stock. The Rashtriya Gokul Mission was restructured/ realigned in July 2021 under Development Programmes with the approval of Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) for implementation from 2021-22 to 2025-26 with allocated sum of ₹2400 crores.

The Cabinet has approved the revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission in March 2025 with an additional outlay of ₹1000 crores that is total outlay of ₹3400 crores during 15th Finance Commission cycle that is from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The revised RGM will result in enhanced productivity and benefit of the programme, percolating to all cattle and buffaloes of India especially with small and marginal farmers. This programme will also benefit women in particular since over 70% of the work involved in livestock farming is undertaken by women.

Objectives

• a) Targeted raising productivity of indigenous bovine breeds through identification and propagation of elite animals of indigenous breeds under National Milk Recording Programme.
• b) To create National Milch Herd of high genetic merit animals which consists of donors and propagation of elitist of elite animals through use modern reproductive bio techniques.
• c) Mainstreaming use of modern breeding technologies such as sex sorted semen, IVF technology, genomics etc. for enhancing productivity of bovines at farmer’s level.
• d) To enhance Artificial insemination coverage through delivery of Artificial insemination services at farmers’ doorstep.

Funding Pattern

All the components of Scheme will be implemented on 100% grant-in-aid basis except the components of:

• a) Promoting sex sorted semen under the component assistance upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen will be made available to participating farmers;
• b) 3% interest subvention on loan taken by the farmer from milk unions/ financial institutions/ banks for induction of high genetic merit (HGM) IVF born Heifers and
• c) One-time assistance of 35% of the capital cost for establishment of housing facility and induction of heifers in Heifer Rearing Centres to implementing agencies.

Components of RGM

1. Availability of High genetic Merit Germplasm:

• a. Support to semen stations
  • Strengthening of existing semen stations
• b. Bull Production Programme
  • Progeny Testing
  • Pedigree Selection
  • Genomic Selection
  • Production of bulls through embryos
  • Import of bulls or equivalent number of embryos
  • National Milk Recording Programme (NMRP)

2. Support to filed AI network

• a) Induction of Community resource person /Multi-Purpose AI technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs)
• b) Strengthening of existing AI centres

3. Extension of AI coverage

• a) Artificial Insemination Programme/ Nationwide AI programme (NAIP)
• b) Promotion of sex sorted semen/ Accelerated breed improvement programme using sex sorted semen

4. Skill Development

5. Implementation of National Digital Livestock Mission – Bharat Pashudhan

6. Farmers Awareness

7. Establishment of Heifer rearing Centres

8. Interest Subvention to farmers on loan for purchase of High Genetic Merit (HGM) heifers