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  • Startup ecosystem can help India become powerhouse of global economy

    Context

    With 62 per cent of the population in the working-age group and 54 per cent below the age of 25, we have the advantage of leveraging the skill and ability of our youth to drive the nation forward through productive output and innovation.

    Significance of startup ecosystem in the country

    • In 2021 alone, Indian startups have so far raised upward of $20 billion in funding.
    • Today, India is home to more than 40,000 startups and is building a robust tech and internet infrastructure.
    • The last decade-and-a-half has witnessed a significant change in the landscape — from the founding of new startups, to global investor interest, to the advances made in infrastructure and policies.
    • Global investors too are realising the potential upside in India’s huge, under-penetrated market as the country steadily makes a place for itself as a leading R&D hub for many Silicon Valley companies.
    • Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Indian startups have rapidly innovated to provide indigenous, tech-enabled solutions to combat challenges from testing kits and ventilators to remote monitoring, and preventive technologies, as well as innovations in supply chain management, logistics, and education.

    Factors driving startup economy in India

    • The steady rise of Indian IT companies in the 2000s, a large talent pool of a skilled workforce, increased expendable income, and rising capital inflows have collectively contributed in large part.
    • Young generation: Moreover, the ability of the young generation to take risks, move fast, and disrupt things without fear, has become our biggest asset today.
    • Increasing internet use: In the next five years and likely to have an estimated 850 million internet users by 2030, the country stands at the cusp of unprecedented economic growth.

    How it helps economy

    • The proliferation of this startup economy has brought with it new business opportunities, innovation, tech-centric approaches and job creation across sectors.
    • A mature startup ecosystem, with seasoned entrepreneurs and technology-led solutions, paves the way for innovation and expanding its global footprint.
    • While value creation lies at the centre of entrepreneurship, Indian startups are also taking big strides in building synergies and partnerships with global entities, further demonstrating the evolution of the startup ecosystem and its appetite for innovation, collaboration and disruption.
    •  In fact, one of the paradigm shifts brought about through technology during the pandemic has been systemic shift to online education and remote learning at scale.
    • Solutions built by Indian startups saw widespread adoption not just domestically but also on a global scale, firmly establishing the country as a cornerstone of tech and innovation in the world.

    Suggestions

    • Educations and reskilling: In order to transition beyond the current capabilities and achieve the demographic dividend, education, and reskilling, and upskilling of our workforce is crucial.
    • Policy environment: Apart from the domestic policy environment, the global environment and technological advances are also changing, and it is imperative that India is prepared for this revolution.
    • Foster entrepreneurship: Apart from policy-level decisions that promote entrepreneurship, the onus is also on India’s corporate sector to foster entrepreneurialism, and create synergies to build impactful technology solutions, sustainable and resource-efficient growth.
    • Inclusion and sustainability: As country stands at the cusp of unprecedented economic growth, speed, inclusion, and sustainability are key elements in this mission.
    • Tap the potential of rural and semi-urban India: The collective future efforts of the public and private sectors to improve physical and digital connectivity will also help unlock the untapped potential of rural and semi-urban India to truly lead Industry 4.0 and beyond.
    • Focus on goals of national importance: In view of achieving this transformation at scale, the Indian startup ecosystem must focus on developing solutions that allow businesses in key sectors to meet goals of national importance.

    Conclusion

    Coupled with the nation’s focus on strengthening digital infrastructure in healthcare and education, and boosting employment in manufacturing, there is little doubt that India@100 will be a powerhouse of the global economy.

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  • Positive Pay System for high-value cheques

    Banks have been informing customers about making mandatory, the positive pay system, a process of reconfirming the key details of high-value cheques.

    What is the Positive Pay System?

    • The Positive Pay System, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India, is a process of reconfirming the key details of large value cheques.
    • Under this system, a person issuing the high-value cheque submits certain essential details of that cheque like date, name of the beneficiary/payee amount etc. to the drawee bank.
    • The details can be submitted through electronic means such as SMS, mobile app, internet banking, ATM etc.
    • The details are cross-checked while issuing the cheque and any discrepancy is flagged.

    Try answering this PYQ:

    Q.Which one of the following links all the ATMs in India? (CSP 2018)

    (a) Indian Banks’ Association

    (b) National Securities Depository Limited

    (c) National Payments Corporation of India

    (d) Reserve Bank of India

    (Note: You need to sign-in to answer this PYQ)

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”vno3efazhv” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

    What is the limit on the amount for the system?

    • RBI has told banks to enable the facility for all account holders issuing cheques for amounts of ₹50,000 and above.
    • It has also been said that while availing of the facility is at the discretion of the account holder, banks may consider making it mandatory in case of cheque values of ₹5 lakh and above.

    Why is this system important for customers?

    • Some banks have been telling customers that if the details of large-value cheques are not pre-registered, the cheque will be returned.
    • On issuance of a high-value cheque, customers should ensure that details are provided within the timeframe prescribed by the banks for hassle-free clearance.
    • RBI has said only cheques that are registered in the Positive Pay System will be accepted under the dispute resolution mechanism.
    • Customers would get an SMS on whether the cheque is accepted or rejected for any reason.

    What are the details of the cheque that must be submitted?

    • Account number, cheque number, date of the cheque, amount, transaction code, beneficiary name, MICR CODE.

    How can these details be submitted?

    • These details can be submitted through the respective bank’s website, internet banking, or mobile banking.
    • In case a customer does not use electronic banking services, they can submit the details by visiting bank branches.
  • [pib] Revamped National Gene Bank

    The Union Agriculture Minister has inaugurated the world’s second-largest refurbished gene bank at the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources.

    National Gene Bank

    • The National Gene Bank was established in the year 1996 to preserve the seeds of Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) for future generations.
    • It has the capacity to preserve about one million germplasm in the form of seeds.
    • Presently it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest have been imported from other countries.
    • National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources is meeting the need of in-situ and ex-situ germplasm conservation through Delhi Headquarters and 10 regional stations in the country.

    Key facilities provided

    • The NGB has four kinds of facilities to cater to long-term as well as medium-term conservation namely:
    1. Seed Gene bank (- 18°C),
    2. Cryo gene bank (-170°C to -196°C),
    3. In-vitro Gene bank (25°C), and
    4. Field Gene bank
    • It stores different crop groups such as cereals, millets, medicinal and aromatic plants, and narcotics, etc.

    What is the latest update?

    • This is the world’s second-largest gene bank located in the national capital.
    • It has the capacity to preserve about one million germplasm in the form of seeds.
    • Presently, it is protecting 4.52 lakh accessions, of which 2.7 lakh are Indian germplasm and the rest have been imported from other countries.

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    Also read:

    Svalbard Global Seed Vault

  • Species in news: Slender Loris

    The Kadavur hills in central Tamil Nadu’s Karur district are home to the Kadavur Reserve Forest. These forests are home to the shy and reclusive slender loris, a species of primate.

    Slender Loris

    • Slender loris (Loris tardigradus) is secretive and has nocturnal habits. It usually travels from the canopy of one tree to another. But, at times, it also comes down to bushes at the ground level to feed.
    • It is also found in the adjoining forest areas on the eastern, southern and western slopes of the Kadavur hills.
    • It sleeps by day in the foliage or in a hole or crevice. It comes out at dusk in search of prey.
    • They are fond of lantana berries and also eat insects, lizards, small birds, tree frogs, tender leaves and buds.
    • They are usually solitary but sometimes found in pairs.

    Conservation

    • The slender loris has been listed as ‘Endangered’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
    • It has been brought under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in order to provide the highest level of legal protection.

    Threats

    • As it is believed that these animals have some medicinal properties, they are captured and sold.
    • Since there is great demand for keeping these animals as pets, they are illegally smuggled.
    • Habitat loss, electrocution of live wires, and road accidents are other threats that have caused its populations to dwindle.

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  • Learning from China

    Context

    As we look back on our own journey after independence and feel proud of our achievements, wisdom lies in also looking around to evaluate how other nations have performed, especially those which started with a similar base or even worse conditions than us.

    How India’s neighbouring countries have performed?

    • Independent India has done better than Pakistan if measured on a per capita income basis:
    • Comparison with Pakistan: India’s per capita income stood at $1,960 (in current PPP terms, it was $6,460) in 2020, as per the IMF estimates, while Pakistan’s per capita income was just $1,260 (in PPP terms $5,150).
    • Comparison with Bangladesh: Bangladesh, whose journey as an independent nation began in 1971, had a per capita income of $2,000 (though $5,310 in PPP terms), marginally higher than India, and certainly much higher than Pakistan in 2020.
    • Comparison with China: The real comparison of India should be with China, given the size of the population of the two countries and the fact that both countries started their journey in the late 1940s.
    • By 2020, China’s overall GDP was $14.7 trillion ($24.1 trillion in current PPP terms), competing with the USA at $20.9 trillion.
    • India, however, lags way behind with its overall GDP at $2.7 trillion ($8.9 trillion in PPP terms).
    • The quality of life, however, depends on per capita income in PPP terms, with the USA at $63,420, China at $17,190 and India at $6,460.

    What made the difference between India and China?

    • India adopted a socialist strategy while China took to communism to provide people food, good health, education, and prosperity.
    • China, having performed dismally on the economic front from 1949 to 1977, started changing track to more market-oriented policies, beginning with agriculture.
    • Agriculture reforms: Economic reforms that included the Household Responsibility System and liberation of agri-markets led to an annual average agri-GDP growth of 7.1 percent during 1978-1984.
    • Reform in the non-Agri sector: Success in agriculture reforms gave political legitimacy to carry out reforms in the non-agriculture sector.
    • Manufacturing revolution: The success of reforms in agriculture created a huge demand for manufactured products, triggering a manufacturing revolution in China’s town and village enterprises.
    • Population control measures: China adopted the one-child norm from 1979-2015.
    • As a result, its per capita income grew much faster.
    • India’s attempts to control its population succeeded only partially and very slowly.
    • India’s sluggish performance when compared to China raises doubts about its flawed democratic structure that makes economic reforms and implementation of policy changes more challenging, unlike China.

    Way forward for India

    • Liberating agri-markets is part of the reform package that China followed. That’s the first lesson.
    • Increase purchasing power of rural areas: Even for manufacturing to grow on a sustainable basis, we have to increase the purchasing power of people in rural areas.
    • This has to be done by raising their productivity and not by distributing freebies.
    • Investment in various areas: Increasing productivity requires investments in education, skills, health and physical infrastructure, besides much higher R&D in agriculture, both by the government as well as by the private sector.
    • Create institutional setup: This requires a different institutional setup than the one we currently have.

    Conclusion

    India’s sluggish performance when compared to China raises doubts about its flawed democratic structure that makes economic reforms and implementation of policy changes more challenging, unlike China. But India has lessons to learn from China.

  • PM announces Rice Fortification Plan

    PM in his I-day speech has announced the fortification of rice distributed under various government schemes, including the Public Distribution System (PDS) and mid-day meals in schools, by 2024.

    What is Fortification?

    • FSSAI defines fortification as “deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food so as to improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefit with minimal risk to health”.

    What is Fortified Rice?

    • Rice can be fortified by adding a micronutrient powder to the rice that adheres to the grains or spraying the surface of ordinary rice grains with a vitamin and mineral mix to form a protective coating.
    • Rice can also be extruded and shaped into partially precooked grain-like structures resembling rice grains, which can then be blended with natural polished rice.
    • Rice kernels can be fortified with several micronutrients, such as iron, folic acid, and other B-complex vitamins, vitamin A and zinc.
    • These fortified kernels are then mixed with normal rice in a 1:100 ratio, and distributed for consumption.

    Note: Biofortification is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology. It differs from conventional fortification in that Biofortification aims to increase nutrient levels in crops during plant growth rather than through manual means during the processing of the crops.

    What is the plan announced by the PM?

    • Malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients in poor women and poor children pose major obstacles in their development.
    • In view of this, it has been decided that the government will fortify the rice given to the poor under its various schemes.
    • Be it the rice available at ration shops or the rice provided to children in their mid-day meals, the rice available through every scheme will be fortified by the year 2024.

    Why such a move?

    • The announcement is significant as the country has high levels of malnutrition among women and children.
    • According to the Food Ministry, every second woman in the country is anemic and every third child is stunted.
    • India ranks 94 out of 107 countries and is in the ‘serious hunger’ category on the Global Hunger Index (GHI).
    • Fortification of rice is a cost-effective and complementary strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets.
    • According to the Food Ministry, seven countries have mandated rice fortification – the USA, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, and the Solomon Islands.

    Advantages offered

    • Health: Fortified staple foods will contain natural or near-natural levels of micro-nutrients, which may not necessarily be the case with supplements.
    • Taste: It provides nutrition without any change in the characteristics of food or the course of our meals.
    • Nutrition: If consumed on a regular and frequent basis, fortified foods will maintain body stores of nutrients more efficiently and more effectively than will intermittently supplement.
    • Economy: The overall costs of fortification are extremely low; the price increase is approximately 1 to 2 percent of the total food value.
    • Society: It upholds everyone’s right to have access to safe and nutritious food, consistent with the right to adequate food and the fundamental right of everyone to be free from hunger

    Issues with fortified food

    • Against nature: Fortification and enrichment upset nature’s packaging. Our body does not absorb individual nutrients added to processed foods as efficiently compared to nutrients naturally occurring.
    • Bioavailability: Supplements added to foods are less bioavailable. Bioavailability refers to the proportion of a nutrient your body is able to absorb and use.
    • Immunity issues: They lack immune-boosting substances.
    • Over-nutrition: Fortified foods and supplements can pose specific risks for people who are taking prescription medications, including decreased absorption of other micro-nutrients, treatment failure, and increased mortality risk.

    Adhering to FSSAI standard

    The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) sets standards for food items in the country.

    • According to FSSAI norms, 1 kg fortified rice will contain iron (28 mg-42.5 mg), folic acid (75-125 microgram), and Vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram).
    • In addition, rice may also be fortified with micronutrients, singly or in combination, with zinc(10 mg-15 mg), Vitamin A (500-750 microgram RE), Vitamin B1 (1 mg-1.5 mg), Vitamin B2 (1.25 mg-1.75 mg), Vitamin B3 (12.5 mg-20 mg) and Vitamin B6 (1.5 mg-2.5 mg) per kg.

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    Back2Basics: Public Distribution System (PDS)

    • The PDS is an Indian food Security System established under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
    • PDS evolved as a system of management of scarcity through the distribution of food grains at affordable prices.
    • PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Governments.
    • The Central Government, through the Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation, and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments.
    • The operational responsibilities including allocation within the State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of FPSs etc., rest with the State Governments.
    • Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution.
    •  Some states/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc.

    Mid-Day Meal Scheme

    • The Midday Meal Scheme is a school meal program in India designed to better the nutritional standing of school-age children nationwide.
    • It is a wholesome freshly-cooked lunch served to children in government and government-aided schools in India.
    • It supplies free lunches on working days for children in primary and upper primary classes in government, government-aided, local body, and alternate innovative education centers, Madarsa and Maqtabs.
    • The programme has undergone many changes since its launch in 1995.
    • The Midday Meal Scheme is covered by the National Food Security Act, 2013.

    The scheme aims to:

    1. avoid classroom hunger
    2. increase school enrolment
    3. increase school attendance
    4. improve socialization among castes
    5. address malnutrition
    6. empower women through employment
  • National Hydrogen Mission

    During his I-Day speech, the PM has announced a National Hydrogen Mission and said India will become the world’s largest exporter of green hydrogen in the years to come.

    National Hydrogen Mission

    • The PM’s announcement takes forward the proposal, made in the 2021 Budget, for the launch of NHM that would enable the generation of hydrogen “from green power sources”.
    • The added advantage of hydrogen is that, apart from transportation, it can be a “decarbonizing agent” for industries like chemicals, iron, steel, fertilizer and refining, transport, heat and power.
    • While the details of the NHM are yet to emerge, India has taken several exploratory steps.
    • India has been working on a pilot project on Blue Hydrogen, Hydrogen CNG (H-CNG), and Green Hydrogen.
    • Several programs are focusing to blend hydrogen with compressed natural gas for use as a transportation fuel as well as an industrial input to refineries.

    Hydrogen as a fuel

    • Hydrogen is the fuel of stars and packs awesome energy. It is also the most abundant element in the universe.
    • But on Earth, it is found in complex molecules such as water or hydrocarbons.
    • Hydrogen is not a source of energy, like fossil fuels or renewable sources like sunlight and air, but an energy carrier, which means it has to be produced, or extracted, and stored before it can be used.
    • But no matter how it is used, the by-product the burning of hydrogen produces is water.

    How is Hydrogen produced?

    • There are several ways of extracting hydrogen and, depending on the method, the hydrogen produced is classified as ‘grey’, ‘blue’, or ‘green’ hydrogen.
    • According to WEC, as of 2019, 96 percent of hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels via carbon-intensive processes.
    • Hydrogen thus obtained is called ‘grey’ hydrogen as the process, though not as expensive as the other methods, releases a lot of carbon dioxide.

    What Is Grey, Blue, Green Of Hydrogen?

    • ‘Grey’ hydrogen becomes ‘blue’ hydrogen when the CO2 given out during its production is locked up through carbon capture and storage (CCS) processes.
    • But while the CO2 output is lowered, this process is quite expensive.
    • ‘Grey’ and ‘blue’ hydrogen, thus, are both produced by the same processes, the only difference for ‘blue’ hydrogen being that the CO2 produced is sequestered.
    • But it is ‘green’ hydrogen that governments are aiming at. This is any hydrogen that is produced from clean energy sources like renewables.
    • ‘Green’ hydrogen is released via the electrolysis of energy from renewable sources. This process, though it gives rise to no CO2 emissions, is expensive and not commercially viable yet.

    Key challenges

    • Lack of infrastructure:  India does not have enough storage capacity for the current state of domestic consumption.
    • Safety concerns: Hydrogen is highly inflammable.

    Way ahead

    • Developing technologies to produce ‘green’ hydrogen is cost-intensive.
    • However, falling renewable energy and fuel cell prices and stringent climate change requirements have provided an impetus for investments in this area.
    • In India, the IITs, IISc, Benaras Hindu University, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research laboratories etc. are exploring different aspects of hydrogen production.

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    Also read:

    [Burning Issue] India’s push for a Gas-based Economy

  • What is Gati Shakti Master Plan?

    In his I-day speech, the PM has announced a ₹100 lakh crore “Gati Shakti” infrastructure plan.

    What is Gati Shakti Master Plan?

    • The PM has pegged the project as a source of employment opportunities for the youth in the future.
    • The plan will make a foundation for holistic infrastructure and give an integrated pathway to our economy.
    • More details and the launch date of the project are awaited.

    What are the focus areas of the project?

    • The Gati Shakti plan will help raise the global profile of local manufacturers and help them compete with their counterparts worldwide.
    • It also raises possibilities of new future economic zones.
    • The PM also said that India needs to increase both manufacturing and exports.

    Why need such a plan?

    • The push for infrastructure is in line with the government’s efforts to step up capital expenditure in infrastructure to promote economic growth.
    • Infrastructure development has the ability to create a multiplier effect with every rupee invested, yielding much higher returns.

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    Back2Basics:

    National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)

  • Species in news: Greater Adjutant Storks

    In a first, Bihar has decided to tag endangered greater adjutant storks (Leptoptilos dubius), locally known as ‘Garuda’, with GPS trackers to monitor their movement as a part of their conservation.

    Greater Adjutant Storks

    • Bhagalpur’s Kadwa Diara floodplains area is the third-most-popular breeding centre for the greater adjutant stork in the world after Assam and Cambodia.
    • Historically the range of the Greater Adjutant covered India and Southeast Asia, but today the endangered storks are mostly found in the Indian state of Assam and in Cambodia.
    • In India, the Greater Adjutant is now confined to the northeastern state of Assam, their last stronghold.

    Try answering this PYQ:

    Q.If you walk through the countryside, you are likely to see some birds stalking alongside the cattle to seize the insects, disturbed by their movement through grasses. Which of the following is/are such bird/ birds?

    1. Painted Stork
    2. Common Myna
    3. Black-necked Crane

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) 2 and 3 only

    (d) 3 only

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”8rjevzut5″ question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here:[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

    Their conservation

    • The greater adjutant is one of the most threatened stork species of the world and is widely considered to be a rare bird.
    • However, the global population of the Greater Adjutant Stork is estimated to be roughly not more than 1,500 now.
    • Hence it is classified as ‘endangered ‘on the IUCN’s Red List 2004 of threatened species and listed under Schedule IV of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
    • The Bombay Natural History Society will help and work along with the state forest, environment, and climate change department to start the process of tagging greater adjutant storks with GPS tracker.

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  • [pib] IndiGau: India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip

    The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad has launched a chip called IndiGau.

    IndiGau

    • IndiGau is India’s first Cattle Genomic Chip for the conservation of pure varieties of indigenous cattle breeds like, Gir, Kankrej, Sahiwal, Ongole etc.
    • It is purely indigenous and the largest cattle chip in the world.
    • It has 11,496 markers more than that placed on 777K Illumina chip of US & UK breeds.
    • The manufacturing of this chip is in synergy with Rashtriya Gokul Mission and is a great example of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

    Utility of IndiGau

    • Indigenous bovines are robust and resilient and are particularly suited to the climate and environment of their respective breeding tracts,
    • Their productivity is less likely to be impacted by the adversities of climate change.
    • The milk of indigenous animals is high in fat and SNF (solids-not-fat) content.

    (SNF content are the substances in milk other than butterfat and water in the form of casein, lactose, vitamins, and minerals which contribute significantly to the nutritive value of milk.)

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    Back2Basics: National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development

    • The NPBBDD has been formulated by merging four ongoing schemes of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in the dairy sector.
    • It was launched in Feb 2014.
    • This merger has been done to integrate milk production and dairying activities in a scientific and holistic manner to meet the increasing demand for milk in the country.

    Components of the scheme

    NPBBDD has the following three components.

    • National Programme for Bovine Breeding (NPBB)
    • National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) and
    • Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

    Differences between all these schemes:

    1) National Programme for Bovine Breeding

    It aims-

    • To arrange quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep
    • To bring all breedable females under organized breeding through Artificial Insemination or natural service using germplasm of high genetic merits

    2) National Programme for Dairy Development

    It aims-

    • To create and strengthen infrastructure for the production of quality milk including cold chain infrastructure linking the farmer to the consumer
    • To strengthen dairy cooperative societies/Producers Companies at the village level
    • To increase milk production by providing technical input services like cattle-feed, and mineral mixture etc.

    3) Rashtriya Gokul Mission

    It aims-

    • To undertake breed improvement programme for indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock.
    • To enhance milk production and productivity of indigenous bovines.
    • To upgrade nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi.