National Gopal Ratna Award (NGRA)

Why in news

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying announced the National Gopal Ratna Award 2024 winners, recognizing excellence in dairy farming, AI, and cooperatives. Special awards for North Eastern States aim to boost regional dairy development.

About National Gopal Ratna Award

• Purpose of the Award:

  The National Gopal Ratna Award (NGRA) is one of India's highest national honors in the field of livestock and dairy farming. It aims to recognize exceptional contributions in animal husbandry, dairying, and livestock development. The award celebrates excellence among dairy farmers, Artificial Insemination (AI) Technicians, and dairy cooperatives.

• Categories of the Award:
  • Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/Buffalo Breeds: Recognizes farmers who excel in rearing indigenous breeds.
  • Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT): Awarded to the best AI technicians promoting livestock breeding.
  • Best Dairy Cooperative/Society/Producer Organization: Acknowledges the top dairy cooperatives and milk producers.
• Special Award for North Eastern Region (NER):
  • Since 2024, a special award has been introduced for the North Eastern States to promote dairy development in this region. This aims to encourage dairy farming in states like Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, etc.
• Prize Structure:
  • 1st Prize: ₹5 lakh
  • 2nd Prize: ₹3 lakh
  • 3rd Prize: ₹2 lakh
  • Special Award for NER: ₹2 lakh (in each category)
  • Winners also receive certificates of merit and mementos.
• Selection Process:

  The NGRA winners are selected from thousands of applications, typically through an online portal (https://awards.gov.in). The rigorous selection process ensures that only the most deserving individuals and organizations are honored.

• Significance
  • The NGRA is directly linked to government initiatives such as the Rashtriya Gokul Mission under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development.
  • This mission promotes the conservation and development of indigenous bovine breeds, which is critical for India's agriculture and economic growth.
  • Livestock sector is a major contributor to India’s GDP and provides livelihood support to millions of small farmers and women.