National Gopal Ratna Awards 2024 Winners Announced Ahead of National Milk Day Celebrations

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has announced the winners of the National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2024, a prestigious recognition in the livestock and dairy sector. The awards ceremony will take place on November 26, 2024, at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, as part of the National Milk Day celebrations. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, along with Ministers of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel and George Kurian, will present the awards in a grand function organized by the department.

The NGRA aims to honor individuals and organizations contributing significantly to animal husbandry and dairying, including farmers rearing indigenous animals, artificial insemination (AI) technicians, and dairy cooperatives. This year, a special category has been introduced to encourage participants from the North Eastern Region (NER).

The award comprises three main categories:

The winners were selected from 2,574 online applications. The awards for the first two categories include cash prizes of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh, and Rs 2 lakh for the first, second, and third ranks, respectively, as well as Rs 2 lakh for the special NER category. Winners in the AIT category will receive a certificate and memento.

The livestock sector plays a vital role in India’s economy, accounting for one-third of agriculture's Gross Value Added (GVA) and growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 8%. Indigenous bovine breeds are especially significant due to their resilience and genetic potential, but their population and performance have been declining.

To address this, DAHD initiated the Rashtriya Gokul Mission in 2014 under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development, focusing on the conservation and development of indigenous breeds.