Context

• Rashtriya Gopal Ratna Award will be presented by the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Purushottam Rupala in Assam on 26 November 2023.
• It is noteworthy that the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is organising the National Gopal Ratna Award 2023 as a part of the National Milk Day Celebration 2023.

 Key Points

• Rashtriya Gopal Ratna Award is one of the highest national awards in the livestock and dairy sector.
• Its objective is to recognize and encourage indigenous animal farmers, AI technicians and units/people working in this sector like dairy cooperative societies/milk producer companies/dairy farmer producer organisations.
• This award is given in three categories, namely;
• To the best dairy farmers rearing indigenous cow/buffalo breed.
• Best Dairy Cooperative/Milk Producer Company/Dairy Farmers Producer Organization).
• To the Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT).
• The prizes for the first two categories i.e. Best Dairy Farmer and Best DCS/FPO/MPC will be Rs 5 lakh for 1st rank, Rs 3 lakh for 2nd rank and Rs 2 lakh for 3rd rank.
• Along with this, a qualification certificate and a memento will also be provided.
• The Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) category will consist only of a certificate of merit and a memento.

 Livestock in india

• Agriculture and allied sector under livestock sector in India comprises 1/3rd of GVA and CAGR of more than 8 percent.
• Also, activities related to animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries play an important role in income generation for farmers, especially landless, small and marginal farmers and women, besides providing affordable and nutritious food to millions of people.

Useful facts for exams 

Government efforts made under dairy sector -

• National Action Plan on Dairy Development 2022
• National Animal Disease Control Program and National Artificial Insemination Program
• Animal Aadhaar Cards
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission
• White Revolution (Operation Flood) etc.

Other facts -

•  World Milk Day – 1st June