Mission focus
The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) is the principal central programme for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds — Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi, Hariana, Ongole, Kankrej, Rathi, Krishna Valley — and for augmenting milk productivity through genetic improvement. Cabinet-approved revision in March 2025 added ₹1,000 crore to the 15th Finance Commission outlay (now ₹3,400 crore).
Benefit structure
- IVF subsidy: ₹5,000 per confirmed pregnancy from In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) using high-genetic-merit (HGM) embryos. Multiplies elite genetics 10× compared with conventional AI.
- Sex-sorted semen: 50 % subsidy on sex-sorted (female-skewed, >90 %) semen straws — ensures dairy farmers get female calves and avoids stray-male-bovine problem.
- Heifer Rearing Centres (HRCs): 35 % one-time capital subsidy on HRC infrastructure.
- HGM heifer loans: 3 % interest subvention on bank loans for procuring elite HGM IVF heifers — convergent with AHIDF and KCC-AH.
Programme delivery
As of 2025, RGM has operationalised 22 IVF labs across state animal husbandry departments and ICAR institutes (NDRI, CIRC, CIRB). 2,541 HGM calves were born by Jan 2025. Sex-sorted semen production has scaled at NDDB and state semen stations. The programme converges with NPDD for cooperative-society delivery and AHIDF for processing-side infrastructure.
How farmers benefit — step by step
- Identify your animal as eligible (indigenous or crossbred) with the local Veterinary Officer; the animal must be tagged under the Animal Health information system (PashuDhan PrahariApp).
- Book sex-sorted semen straws at an empanelled centre or via a Mobile Veterinary Unit (MVU); the 50 % subsidy is applied at point of sale, balance paid by the farmer.
- For HGM IVF: contact the nearest RGM IVF lab (22 operational across India), book an oocyte-pickup slot; embryo transfer happens in-vivo on a recipient cow.
- On confirmation of pregnancy (60 — 90 days post- transfer), ₹5,000 is credited via DBT to the farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account.
- For HGM heifer purchase, apply for a 3 % subvention loan at a cooperative or scheduled commercial bank; HGM tagged heifers from an empanelled HRC qualify.
- For setting up an HRC, prepare a DPR and apply with land record and processor/AI-station tie-up; 35 % capital subsidy is released on commissioning.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- March 2025: Cabinet revised RGM outlay — added ₹1,000 crore taking total to ₹3,400 crore under the 15th Finance Commission cycle; extended scheme period to 2025-26.
- January 2025: HGM calf births crossed 2,541 cumulative through 22 operational IVF labs.
- August 2024: Sex-sorted semen production scaled at NDDB and state semen stations; 50 % subsidy formalised at retail point.
- April 2024: Animal Health information system (PashuDhan PrahariApp) updated with RGM tagging — farmer-animal-AI-event linkage recorded digitally.
- 2025-26: HRC capital-subsidy window opened to FPOs and cooperatives registered under 10,000 FPOs scheme; convergence with AHIDF interest subvention.
Common reasons benefits don't flow
- Animal not tagged on PashuDhan Prahari: untagged animals cannot be linked to RGM-funded AI events.
- Aadhaar — bank seeding failure: ₹5,000 IVF DBT credit fails on NPCI side.
- Semen not from empanelled centre: informal/private sex-sorted semen does not qualify for the 50 % subsidy.
- HRC DPR cost above benchmark: capital cost above CWC/IDC benchmark is trimmed.
- Pregnancy confirmation not recorded: ₹5,000 IVF DBT triggers only on documented confirmation by registered Veterinary Officer.
- Loan default or NPA history: 3 % subvention on HGM heifer loan denied for borrowers with active default on agri credit.
Grievance pathway: District Animal Husbandry Officer → State Animal Husbandry Department Director → Mission Director, RGM (Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying). Helpline through the Department's PashuDhan PrahariApp.
Coverage and outlay statistics
Per DAHD data tabled in Parliament during the 2024 Winter Session, RGM had cumulatively delivered around 7 — 8 crore Artificial Insemination procedures across the Nationwide AI Programme (NAIP) phases; HGM calves via IVF crossed 2,541 by January 2025. India's milk production stood at roughly 230 — 235 million tonnes in 2023-24, the largest in the world. Coverage of indigenous breeds' conservation has been extended in Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Rathi, Hariana and Ongole tracts; state-wise live progress is on the DAHD dashboard.
How RGM stacks with other schemes
RGM is the genetic-improvement layer. NPDD provides cooperative-society infrastructure to receive and process the additional milk produced by improved animals. AHIDF provides 3 % interest subvention on dairy, poultry, small-ruminant infrastructure loans up to ₹2 crore. NADCP provides free FMD & brucellosis vaccination, protecting RGM's genetic investment. PMMSY covers fisheries, and NMNF consumes desi-cow dung/urine for jeevamrit and beejamrit — RGM thus indirectly supports natural farming. KCC-AH at MISS rate finances animal purchase.