What is the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and which department runs it?

Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is a Government of India scheme launched in December 2014 by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, for the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds. It targets 53 recognised indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds — including Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Rathi, Hariana, Kankrej, Ongole, Murrah, Mehsana, Jaffarabadi and others — through genetic improvement using advanced reproductive technologies. The scheme was continued by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 24 February 2022 with a revised outlay of ₹2,400 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 as Phase III, integrating the earlier Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and elements of the National Programme for Dairy Development.

What does the ₹2,400 crore Phase III outlay actually cover?

The Phase III continuation approved on 24 February 2022 carries a Government of India share of ₹2,400 crore over 2021-22 to 2025-26 and consolidates the four operational components: (a) Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using IVF and sex-sorted semen, (b) Promotion of Breed Multiplication Farms (BMFs), (c) Strengthening of semen stations and Artificial Insemination delivery, and (d) Promotion of bull production through Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection. The scheme is implemented by State Implementing Agencies (SIAs) — typically state Livestock Development Boards, state animal husbandry departments, state co-operative milk federations, NDDB, ICAR institutes, recognised universities and identified Central Cattle Breeding Farms — and is delivered through the existing Multi-Purpose AI Technicians in Rural India (MAITRI) network and Mobile Veterinary Units.

How does the sex-sorted semen subsidy work under RGM?

Sex-sorted semen is X-sorted bovine semen that produces female calves with about 90% probability, accelerating the dairy herd build-up of indigenous breeds. Under Phase III, the Government of India bears 50% of the cost of each dose of sex-sorted semen subject to a ceiling of ₹750 per dose, with the balance recovered from the farmer or the implementing co-operative. The Phase III target was to cover approximately 1 crore animals over 2021-22 to 2025-26 with sex-sorted semen and to benefit about 2 crore farmers through the wider AI programme. Sex-sorted semen straws are produced at empanelled domestic semen stations (NDDB-Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala, ABS-Genus, BAIF and others) and at imported-tech tie-up stations notified by DAHD.

What is the IVF support under RGM and who is eligible?

The Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme component of RGM supports in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) of elite indigenous cows to multiply high-genetic-merit progeny faster than conventional AI. Under Phase III the Government of India provides a 50% subsidy on the cost of each IVF assured pregnancy subject to a ceiling of ₹5,000 per pregnancy. The empanelled IVF labs are spread across NDDB, ICAR-NDRI Karnal, state Livestock Development Boards and approved private partners; the donor cows must be from notified indigenous breeds with documented yield records. The farmer-side benefit is delivered through the State Implementing Agency to the registered participating farmer / Self-Help Group / dairy co-operative society.

What are Breed Multiplication Farms and what subsidy is available?

A Breed Multiplication Farm (BMF) is a private-sector or co-operative farm that maintains a minimum of 200 high-yielding bovines of a notified indigenous breed and supplies disease-free, genetically superior heifers to neighbouring dairy farmers. Under RGM Phase III, entrepreneurs setting up a BMF are eligible for a 50% capital subsidy on the project cost subject to a ceiling of ₹2 crore per farm, sanctioned through DAHD via the State Implementing Agency, with the balance financed through bank credit. The BMF must commit to producing a minimum number of heifers per year of the notified breed; the scheme is convergent with the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), which provides the 3% interest subvention on the bank-loan portion of the project.

Where can I find the official RGM guidelines and how does a farmer participate?

Farmers do not apply to Rashtriya Gokul Mission directly at the centre; the scheme is delivered through the State Implementing Agency (SIA) — typically the state Livestock Development Board, the state animal husbandry / dairy development department, or the state co-operative milk federation. Farmers register their indigenous-breed animal with the local MAITRI / Artificial Insemination technician, who tags it with a Pashu Aadhaar ear tag and enrols it on INAPH; the farmer can then opt for sex-sorted semen AI or IVF on payment of the subsidised farmer-share. The authoritative reference sources are the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying portal at dahd.nic.in, the NDDB portal at nddb.coop, the e-Gopala mobile application, and the Press Information Bureau release dated 24 February 2022 announcing the Phase III continuation with the ₹2,400 crore outlay.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) Guide — ₹2,400 cr Phase III for Indigenous Bovine Breed Development, Sex-Sorted Semen, IVF and Breed Multiplication Farms

Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)is the Government of India's flagship scheme for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds — the 53 recognised desi cattle and buffalo breeds that account for the bulk of India's dairy herd. It is administered by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, launched in December 2014, and continued by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 24 February 2022 with a revised outlay of ₹2,400 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 (Phase III). RGM is the breeding-side complement to the animal-husbandry portfolio that also includes the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), the National Livestock Mission (NLM) and the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP). For the wider farmer-welfare portfolio see our India government schemes for farmers reference; RGM stacks naturally with the Kisan Credit Card (extended to animal husbandry and dairying in 2018-19) and PM-KISAN for dairy-farmer families.

At a glance

Scheme type: Centrally-sponsored scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying for indigenous bovine breed development and conservation.
Launched: December 2014; continued as Phase III by the CCEA on 24 February 2022.
Outlay (Phase III): ₹2,400 crore Government of India share for 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Coverage target: ~1 crore animals to be covered with sex-sorted semen and ~2 crore farmers to benefit from the wider Artificial Insemination programme over Phase III.
Sex-sorted semen subsidy: 50% of cost, ceiling ₹750 / dose, balance recovered from the farmer or co-operative.
IVF subsidy: 50% of cost per assured pregnancy, ceiling ₹5,000, delivered through empanelled IVF labs.
Breed Multiplication Farm subsidy: 50% capital subsidy, ceiling ₹2 crore per farm (minimum 200 indigenous-breed bovines).
Animal ID: 12-digit Pashu Aadhaar ear tag, linked to the Information Network on Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH) database.
Awards: Gopal Ratna Awards on National Milk Day (26 November) — ₹5 lakh / ₹3 lakh / ₹2 lakh in three categories.
Portals: dahd.nic.in, nddb.coop, pib.gov.in.

Why RGM was launched

India has the world's largest bovine population — 303 million per the 20th Livestock Census (2019) — but productivity per animal in indigenous cattle has lagged crossbred and exotic genetics, and the share of high-genetic-merit indigenous-breed bulls in the national AI pool was modest at the time RGM was conceived. The 2014 launch articulated three objectives: development and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation using elite indigenous bulls and enhancement of milk production and productivity for the small / marginal dairy farmer. Phase III doubles down on sex-sorted semen and IVF to compress a decade-long conventional breed-improvement cycle into 4-5 years.

The four operational components of Phase III

Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme (ABIP) — production and distribution of sex-sorted semen (X-sorted, ~90% female-calf probability) and in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) of elite indigenous cows. Farmer-side subsidy: 50% of the cost of each sex-sorted semen dose subject to ₹750 / dose, and 50% of the cost of each IVF assured pregnancy subject to ₹5,000 / pregnancy. Implementing partners include the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), ICAR–NDRI, Karnal(the ICAR Deemed-to-be-University for dairy sciences whose Animal Biotechnology Division produced the world's first cloned buffalo Samrupa in February 2009 and which coordinates AICRP-Cattle and AICRP-Buffalo), state Livestock Development Boards, the empanelled domestic sex-sorted-semen stations and approved private partners.
Promotion of Breed Multiplication Farms (BMFs) — capital subsidy of 50% capped at ₹2 crore per private / co-operative BMF that maintains a minimum of 200 indigenous-breed bovines and supplies high-genetic-merit disease-free heifers to neighbouring dairy farmers. The balance project cost is financed through bank credit with the option of 3% interest subvention from the convergent AHIDF.
Strengthening of semen stations and AI delivery — capacity expansion of A and B grade semen stations, training and equipment for the MAITRI (Multi-Purpose AI Technicians in Rural India) network, and extension of doorstep AI services to villages currently outside the AI footprint. Phase III target: roughly 8.5 crore AIs over the five-year window.
Bull production through Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection — identification of elite indigenous bulls through Progeny Testing (PT) of Sahiwal, Gir, Tharparkar, Hariana, Red Sindhi and Murrah and through Pedigree Selection (PS) of recorded bull-mother daughters, to ensure that the AI pool itself is being genetically upgraded year on year.

Recognised indigenous breeds and flagship infrastructure

The scheme covers all 53 recognised indigenous bovine breeds registered with the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal — flagship cattle breeds include Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Rathi, Hariana, Kankrej, Ongole, Vechur, Punganur, Krishna Valley, Deoni, Khillar, Hallikar, Amritmahal and Malvi; flagship buffalo breeds include Murrah, Mehsana, Jaffarabadi, Surti, Nili-Ravi, Bhadawari, Nagpuri, Toda and Pandharpuri. Two flagship infrastructure projects under RGM are the National Kamadhenu Breeding Centres (NKBCs) — one at Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) for North-East buffalo breeds and one at Chintaladevi (Andhra Pradesh) for South Indian indigenous cattle breeds — and the chain of Gokul Grams (Integrated Indigenous Cattle Development Centres) sanctioned in Phase I and Phase II.

Pashu Aadhaar and the INAPH spine

Every bovine enrolled under RGM is issued a 12-digit Pashu Aadhaar recorded on an ear tag and uploaded to the Information Network on Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH) database operated by NDDBin partnership with DAHD. INAPH captures the animal's breed, owner KYC, AI history, NADCP vaccination record, milk yield and progeny linkage, and is the operational backbone for sex-sorted semen and IVF roll-out. The same Pashu Aadhaar is referenced by the e-Gopala mobile app (germplasm marketplace, vaccination reminders, AI due-dates, heifer purchase) and the e-Pashu Haat portal.

How a dairy farmer actually benefits

Farmers do not apply to RGM directly at the centre; the scheme is delivered through the State Implementing Agency (SIA) — typically the state Livestock Development Board, the state animal husbandry / dairy department, or the state co-operative milk federation (Amul, Mother Dairy, KMF, OMFED and equivalents). The on-the-ground touchpoint is the MAITRI (Multi-Purpose AI Technician in Rural India), who registers each animal with a Pashu Aadhaar ear tag on INAPH, then offers the choice of conventional semen, sex-sorted semen (₹750 ceiling subsidy, farmer pays balance) or, for elite donor cows, an IVF assured pregnancy (₹5,000 ceiling subsidy, farmer pays balance), and updates INAPH with the AI / IVF event and the calving outcome to build up multi-generation indigenous-breed pedigrees that feed back into Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection. A dairy farmer wanting to buy a high-genetic-merit indigenous-breed heifer can use the e-Pashu Haat and e-Gopala portals to find a notified Breed Multiplication Farm or Gaushala, finance the purchase through the Kisan Credit Card extended to animal husbandry & dairying, and stack income support from PM-KISAN on the same farmer family.

Convergence with AHIDF, NPDD, NLM, NADCP, KCC-AH&D and PM-KISAN

AHIDF: ₹15,000 crore facility launched in 2020 (expanded to ₹29,610 crore) providing a 3% interest subvention on bank loans for dairy processing, feed plants, breed multiplication farms and Animal Husbandry Start-Ups — the capital-finance window for RGM-sanctioned BMFs.
NPDD (National Programme for Dairy Development): the ₹1,790 crore Component A Quality Milk Programme (2021-22 to 2025-26) plus JICA-partnered Component B that upgrades co-operative-sector BMCs, dairy testing labs and milk-processing infrastructure downstream of RGM's improved-breed milk volumes.
NLM (National Livestock Mission): rural livestock entrepreneurship for poultry, sheep / goat, piggery and fodder; a 50% capital subsidy up to ₹50 lakh per entrepreneur sits adjacent to RGM's 50% BMF subsidy.
NADCP: 100% centrally funded FMD & Brucellosis vaccination drive — every Pashu Aadhaar RGM tags is the same record NADCP uses for vaccination tracking on INAPH.
KCC-AH&D: KCC extended to animal husbandry & dairying in 2018-19 with collateral-free limits of ₹1.6–2 lakh — see our KCC deep-dive guide.
PM-KISAN: ₹6,000 / year income support to landholding dairy-farmer families that also keep indigenous bovines under RGM.
PMMSY: the parallel fisheries flagship — same model of centrally-sponsored subsidy + state implementation + national-database beneficiary tagging.

Gopal Ratna Awards

The Gopal Ratna Awards, instituted under RGM and presented annually around National Milk Day (26 November), recognise excellence in indigenous bovine breeding across three categories — Best Dairy Farmer rearing indigenous cattle / buffalo breeds, Best AI Technician (MAITRI) and Best Dairy Co-operative / Milk Producer Company / FPO dealing in milk procurement from indigenous-breed animals — with prizes of ₹5 lakh / ₹3 lakh / ₹2 lakh in each category and separate awards reserved for the North-Eastern region. Nominations open on the DAHD portal each year; winners are announced via PIB.

Sources

Press Information Bureau (PIB) — Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs press release dated 24 February 2022 approving the continuation of Rashtriya Gokul Mission for 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a ₹2,400 crore outlay; subsequent PIB releases on the Gopal Ratna Awards and on sex-sorted semen / IVF roll-out.
dahd.nic.in — Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying: RGM operational guidelines, the State Implementing Agency framework, MAITRI training norms and the empanelled semen-station list.
nddb.coop — National Dairy Development Board: INAPH database, e-Pashu Haat portal, sex-sorted-semen station tie-ups and IVF implementation partner.
nbagr.icar.gov.in — ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal: registered list of 53 indigenous bovine breeds covered under RGM.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Rashtriya Gokul Mission and which department runs it?: Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is a Government of India scheme launched in December 2014 by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, for the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds. It targets 53 recognised indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds — including Gir, Sahiwal, Red Sindhi, Tharparkar, Rathi, Hariana, Kankrej, Ongole, Murrah, Mehsana, Jaffarabadi and others — through genetic improvement using advanced reproductive technologies. The scheme was continued by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 24 February 2022 with a revised outlay of ₹2,400 crore for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 as Phase III, integrating the earlier Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB) and elements of the National Programme for Dairy Development.
What does the ₹2,400 crore Phase III outlay actually cover?: The Phase III continuation approved on 24 February 2022 carries a Government of India share of ₹2,400 crore over 2021-22 to 2025-26 and consolidates the four operational components: (a) Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using IVF and sex-sorted semen, (b) Promotion of Breed Multiplication Farms (BMFs), (c) Strengthening of semen stations and Artificial Insemination delivery, and (d) Promotion of bull production through Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection. The scheme is implemented by State Implementing Agencies (SIAs) — typically state Livestock Development Boards, state animal husbandry departments, state co-operative milk federations, NDDB, ICAR institutes, recognised universities and identified Central Cattle Breeding Farms — and is delivered through the existing Multi-Purpose AI Technicians in Rural India (MAITRI) network and Mobile Veterinary Units.
How does the sex-sorted semen subsidy work under RGM?: Sex-sorted semen is X-sorted bovine semen that produces female calves with about 90% probability, accelerating the dairy herd build-up of indigenous breeds. Under Phase III, the Government of India bears 50% of the cost of each dose of sex-sorted semen subject to a ceiling of ₹750 per dose, with the balance recovered from the farmer or the implementing co-operative. The Phase III target was to cover approximately 1 crore animals over 2021-22 to 2025-26 with sex-sorted semen and to benefit about 2 crore farmers through the wider AI programme. Sex-sorted semen straws are produced at empanelled domestic semen stations (NDDB-Sabarmati Ashram Gaushala, ABS-Genus, BAIF and others) and at imported-tech tie-up stations notified by DAHD.
What is the IVF support under RGM and who is eligible?: The Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme component of RGM supports in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) of elite indigenous cows to multiply high-genetic-merit progeny faster than conventional AI. Under Phase III the Government of India provides a 50% subsidy on the cost of each IVF assured pregnancy subject to a ceiling of ₹5,000 per pregnancy. The empanelled IVF labs are spread across NDDB, ICAR-NDRI Karnal, state Livestock Development Boards and approved private partners; the donor cows must be from notified indigenous breeds with documented yield records. The farmer-side benefit is delivered through the State Implementing Agency to the registered participating farmer / Self-Help Group / dairy co-operative society.
What are Breed Multiplication Farms and what subsidy is available?: A Breed Multiplication Farm (BMF) is a private-sector or co-operative farm that maintains a minimum of 200 high-yielding bovines of a notified indigenous breed and supplies disease-free, genetically superior heifers to neighbouring dairy farmers. Under RGM Phase III, entrepreneurs setting up a BMF are eligible for a 50% capital subsidy on the project cost subject to a ceiling of ₹2 crore per farm, sanctioned through DAHD via the State Implementing Agency, with the balance financed through bank credit. The BMF must commit to producing a minimum number of heifers per year of the notified breed; the scheme is convergent with the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), which provides the 3% interest subvention on the bank-loan portion of the project.
What is Pashu Aadhaar and how does INAPH support RGM?: Pashu Aadhaar is the 12-digit unique identification number issued to every bovine enrolled under RGM, recorded against an ear tag and linked to the Information Network on Animal Productivity & Health (INAPH) database maintained by NDDB. INAPH captures the animal's breed, owner, AI history, vaccination record, milk yield and progeny linkage, and is the operational backbone for sex-sorted semen and IVF roll-out under Phase III — the same database is used by the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for FMD and Brucellosis vaccination tracking, by the Livestock Census, and by the e-Pashu Haat / e-Gopala portal that connects breeders to buyers of high-genetic-merit germplasm.
What are the Gopal Ratna and Kamadhenu awards?: The Gopal Ratna Awards, instituted under RGM and presented annually around National Milk Day (26 November), recognise excellence in indigenous bovine breeding across three categories: (i) best dairy farmer rearing indigenous cattle / buffalo breeds, (ii) best Artificial Insemination Technician (MAITRI), and (iii) best dairy co-operative / Milk Producer Company / FPO dealing in milk procurement from indigenous breeds. The cash prizes are ₹5 lakh for first, ₹3 lakh for second and ₹2 lakh for third in each category, with separate awards for North-Eastern states. The Kamadhenu Awards (now subsumed into Gopal Ratna) earlier recognised the best-managed institutional / co-operative breeding centre. These awards are administered by DAHD and announced via PIB and the dahd.nic.in portal.
Where can I find the official RGM guidelines and how does a farmer participate?: Farmers do not apply to Rashtriya Gokul Mission directly at the centre; the scheme is delivered through the State Implementing Agency (SIA) — typically the state Livestock Development Board, the state animal husbandry / dairy development department, or the state co-operative milk federation. Farmers register their indigenous-breed animal with the local MAITRI / Artificial Insemination technician, who tags it with a Pashu Aadhaar ear tag and enrols it on INAPH; the farmer can then opt for sex-sorted semen AI or IVF on payment of the subsidised farmer-share. The authoritative reference sources are the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying portal at dahd.nic.in, the NDDB portal at nddb.coop, the e-Gopala mobile application, and the Press Information Bureau release dated 24 February 2022 announcing the Phase III continuation with the ₹2,400 crore outlay.

RGM design parameters above summarise the publicly available CCEA decision of 24 February 2022 and the operational guidelines on dahd.nic.in and pib.gov.in. Per-state ceilings, empanelled-station lists and subsidy-release windows vary; beneficiaries should verify current terms with their State Implementing Agency before drawing assistance.