Digital Transformation of the Indian Livestock Sector: UPSC Current Affairs Story Arc

Overview

This arc tracks the strategic digital overhaul of India's livestock sector from March 2025 to January 2026. It begins with the Union Cabinet boosting the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) with a revised ₹3,400 crore outlay to improve bovine genetics. This funding paved the way for the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM), a policy framework designed to create a unified digital database. The arc culminates in the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) executing this vision by integrating 17.3 lakh producers into automated systems and issuing millions of digital IDs, shifting the sector from fragmented traditional farming to a technology-driven, traceable global powerhouse.

How This Story Evolved

Revised funding approved (Item 15) → National Digital Livestock Mission launched (Item 3) → NDDB executes digital reforms and ID generation (Item 7)

1. 2025-03-20: Rashtriya Gokul Mission Revised with Increased Outlay
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Rashtriya Gokul Mission revised with increased outlay.

   Key Facts:

   • Revised Outlay: ₹3,400 crore
   • Additional Allocation: ₹1,000 crore
   • Period: 2021-22 to 2025-26
   • Launched: December 2014
   • Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying
   • Approved: Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)
   • Additional outlay: ₹1,000 crore
   • For: 2024-25 and 2025-26
   • Objective: boost growth in the livestock sector
   • New activities: two introduced
   • Creation of: 30 housing facilities
   • Capacity: 15,000 heifers
2. 2025-12-18: National Digital Livestock Mission Launched
   More details

   UPSC Angle: National Digital Livestock Mission launched for digital database of livestock.

   Key Facts:

   • Mission: National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM)
   • Launched by: Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
   • Objective: Creating a digital database of livestock
   • Aims: Enhance livestock productivity, strengthen disease surveillance, enable traceability, create farmer-centric digital ecosystem
3. 2026-01-10: Digital Transformation of India's Dairy Sector
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Digital transformation of India's dairy sector.

   Key Facts:

   • India is the world's largest milk producer, accounting for 25% of global output
   • NDDB generated over 35.68 crore “Pashu Aadhaar” IDs
   • Over 17.3 lakh producers are integrated into the Automatic Milk Collection System (AMCS)
   • Milk production was 221.06 million tonnes in 2021-22
   • Per capita availability has risen to 444 grams per day
   • Digital transformation of India's dairy sector is led by NDDB
   • Reforms cover livestock identification, milk procurement, breeding, ERP systems, logistics, and cooperative governance

Genesis

Trigger

On March 20, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved a revised outlay of ₹3,400 crore for the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), specifically adding ₹1,000 crore for the 2021-26 period.

Why Now

The shift was driven by the need to scale up bovine productivity (currently at 444g per capita availability) and meet global export standards for traceability, which require individual animal tracking.

Historical Context

The RGM was originally launched in December 2014 to conserve indigenous breeds, but early phases lacked a robust, integrated digital backbone to track genetic progress across the country's massive cattle population.

Key Turning Points

1. [2025-03-20] Revised RGM Outlay Approval

   It shifted the focus from simple breed conservation to technology-led productivity enhancement with a massive ₹3,400 crore war chest.

   Before: RGM was a conservation scheme. After: It became the financial engine for a high-tech livestock revolution.

2. [2025-12-18] Launch of NDLM

   Created the 'Livestock Stack' equivalent of India Stack, enabling unified data sharing across the country.

   Before: Livestock data was siloed in state-level registries. After: A centralized farmer-centric digital ecosystem was born.

Key Actors and Institutions

Key Institutions

• National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
• Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD)
• Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying

Key Concepts

Pashu Aadhaar

A unique 12-digit identification number assigned to individual livestock animals using polyurethane ear tags to track health, breeding, and productivity data.

Current Fact: 35.68 crore IDs have been generated by the NDDB as of January 2026.

High Genetic Merit (HGM) Bulls

Bulls selected for superior milk-production traits used in Artificial Insemination (AI) to improve the genetic potential of the next generation of cattle.

Current Fact: A key focus of the ₹3,400 crore RGM outlay is to promote the use of these bulls.

Automatic Milk Collection System (AMCS)

A digital interface at the village cooperative level that automates milk testing, weighing, and payment to ensure transparency and immediate DBT to farmers.

Current Fact: Over 17.3 lakh producers are currently integrated into this system.

What Happens Next

Current Status

As of January 2026, the NDDB has successfully generated 35.68 crore 'Pashu Aadhaar' IDs and integrated 17.3 lakh producers into the Automatic Milk Collection System (AMCS).

Likely Next

Expansion of the digital ecosystem to include 'E-Gopala' app enhancements for real-time disease alerts and the launch of a national digital marketplace for high-genetic merit bulls.

Wildcards

Data privacy concerns regarding farmer information and potential regional resistance to the mandatory tagging of indigenous breeds.

Why UPSC Cares

Syllabus Topics

• Economics of animal-rearing
• Technology missions
• E-technology in the aid of farmers

Essay Angles

• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) as a tool for rural prosperity
• White Revolution 2.0: From Pails to Pixels
• The role of livestock in doubling farmers' income

Prelims Likely: Yes

Mains Likely: Yes

Trend Signal: rising

Exam Intelligence

Previous Year Question Connections

• Testing objectives of Rashtriya Gokul Mission regarding indigenous cattle and rural poor upliftment. — The arc provides the updated funding (₹3,400 Cr) and digital objectives that update the core mission goals.
• Livestock sector's contribution to GVA and self-employment. — This arc updates the factual data for such questions: 25% global milk share and 221.06 million tonnes production.

Prelims Angles

• Exact revised outlay for RGM (₹3,400 crore)
• Ministry responsible for NDLM (Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying)
• Current per capita milk availability (444 grams per day)
• Total Pashu Aadhaar IDs generated (35.68 crore)

Mains Preparation

Sample Question: Discuss how the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) acts as a force multiplier for the Rashtriya Gokul Mission in achieving sustainable milk production and global traceability. (250 words)

Answer Structure: Intro: Context of India as top milk producer. Body 1: RGM's role in genetic improvement and funding. Body 2: NDLM's role in digital ID (Pashu Aadhaar) and disease surveillance. Body 3: Synergies—how digital data improves breeding outcomes and export potential. Conclusion: Impact on farmer income and the goal of a 5-trillion dollar economy.

Essay Topic: Digital India: Transforming the 'Cattle Wealth' of Rural Households

Textbook Connections

Key Takeaway

The transformation of the livestock sector from a traditional subsidiary activity to a data-driven industrial sector (via RGM and NDLM) is a critical pillar for India's food security and export-led rural growth.

All Events in This Story (3 items)

1. 2025-03-20 [Schemes & Programs] — Rashtriya Gokul Mission Revised with Increased Outlay
   The Union Cabinet approved a revised outlay of ₹3,400 crore for the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), with an additional ₹1,000 crore allocated for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26, to boost bovine productivity and increase sustainable milk production using modern technology. The mission aims to promote the use of high genetic merit bulls, expand Artificial Insemination (AI) services, and preserve indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Rashtriya Gokul Mission revised with increased outlay.

   Key Facts:

   • Revised Outlay: ₹3,400 crore
   • Additional Allocation: ₹1,000 crore
   • Period: 2021-22 to 2025-26
   • Launched: December 2014
   • Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying
   • Approved: Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)
   • Additional outlay: ₹1,000 crore
   • For: 2024-25 and 2025-26
   • Objective: boost growth in the livestock sector
   • New activities: two introduced
   • Creation of: 30 housing facilities
   • Capacity: 15,000 heifers
2. 2025-12-18 [Schemes & Programs] — National Digital Livestock Mission Launched
   The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, launched the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) for creating a digital database of livestock and related services across the country. The mission aims to enhance livestock productivity and breed improvement, strengthen disease surveillance and control, enable traceability of livestock products, and create a farmer-centric digital ecosystem for efficient service delivery.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: National Digital Livestock Mission launched for digital database of livestock.

   Key Facts:

   • Mission: National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM)
   • Launched by: Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
   • Objective: Creating a digital database of livestock
   • Aims: Enhance livestock productivity, strengthen disease surveillance, enable traceability, create farmer-centric digital ecosystem
3. 2026-01-10 [Economy] — Digital Transformation of India's Dairy Sector
   The digital transformation of India's dairy sector, led by NDDB, focuses on technology-driven reforms covering livestock identification, milk procurement, breeding, ERP systems, logistics, and cooperative governance. It aims to enhance traceability, farmer-centric DBT, productivity, and cost efficiency in the dairy ecosystem.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Digital transformation of India's dairy sector.

   Key Facts:

   • India is the world's largest milk producer, accounting for 25% of global output
   • NDDB generated over 35.68 crore “Pashu Aadhaar” IDs
   • Over 17.3 lakh producers are integrated into the Automatic Milk Collection System (AMCS)
   • Milk production was 221.06 million tonnes in 2021-22
   • Per capita availability has risen to 444 grams per day
   • Digital transformation of India's dairy sector is led by NDDB
   • Reforms cover livestock identification, milk procurement, breeding, ERP systems, logistics, and cooperative governance