National Gopal Ratna Award 2024

  • 26 Nov 2024

Tags:

In News:

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) declared the winners of the National Gopal Ratna Awards(NGRA); one of the highest National Awards in the field of livestock and dairy sector for the year 2024.

About the National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA):

  • Purpose:Recognize and encourage individuals, AI technicians, dairy cooperatives, and farmer organizations in the livestock and dairy sector.
  • Categories:
    • Best Dairy Farmer (Indigenous Cattle/Buffalo Breeds)
    • Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT)
    • Best Dairy Cooperative/Milk Producer Company (MPC)/Dairy Farmer Producer Organization
  1. Addition (2024):Special awards for North Eastern Region (NER) to promote dairy development in the area, with winners in all three categories.
  2. and Prizes:
  • Rs. 5 lakhs for 1st rank, Rs. 3 lakhs for 2nd rank, Rs. 2 lakhs for 3rd rank, and Rs. 2 lakhs for Special NER Award in the categories of Best Dairy Farmer and Best Dairy Cooperative/FPO/MPCs.
  • For Best AIT, winners will receive a Certificate of Merit and a memento.
  1. Process:Winners selected from 2,574 applications via an online portal (https://awards.gov.in).
  1.  
  • The livestock sector is crucial for India's economy, contributing significantly to agriculture and providing livelihood, especially for small and marginal farmers, women, and landless laborers.
  • Indigenous breeds have immense genetic potential, but their population and performance have been declining. To address this, the Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development in 2014 to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds.

National Milk Day

  • It is celebrated annually on November 26 in India to honor the significant contributions of milk and the dairy industry to the country's development.
  • The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr VergheseKurien, the "Father of the White Revolution" in India, who played a pivotal role in transforming India into the largest producer of milk globally.
  • National Milk Day was first celebrated on November 26, 2014, after the Indian Dairy Association (IDA), along with various dairy institutions across the country.