Why in news?
On 17 November 2025, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying announced the winners of the National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) for 2025. The awards will be presented on 26 November 2025, coinciding with National Milk Day celebrations. They honour outstanding dairy farmers, cooperative societies and artificial insemination technicians who contribute to the conservation and development of indigenous cattle breeds.
Background
The NGRA were instituted in 2014 under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, a scheme aimed at conserving India’s indigenous bovine genetic resources. Since 2021, the awards have been conferred annually to recognise excellence and encourage best practices in dairy farming, cooperative management and artificial insemination services. For the 2025 edition, more than 2,000 applications were received nationwide.
Categories and winners
- Best Dairy Farmer (rearing indigenous breeds): In the non‑North‑Eastern region, first prize went to Shri Aravind Yashavant Patil from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Second place was awarded to Dr Kankanala Krishna Reddy from Hyderabad, Telangana, while third place was shared by Mr Harshit Jhuria from Sikar, Rajasthan, and Kumari Shraddha Satyawan Dhavan from Ahmednagar, Maharashtra. In the North‑Eastern/Himalayan category, Smt Vijay Lata from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, and Shri Pradeep Pangariya from Champawat, Uttarakhand, were recognised.
- Best Dairy Cooperative/Farmer‑Producer Company: The Meenan Gadi Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangham Ltd from Wayanad, Kerala, won first place. Second place was shared by cooperatives from Palakkad, Kerala, and Jaipur, Rajasthan, and third place went to a society in Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu. A special prize for the North‑Eastern/Himalayan region was awarded to the Kulha Duud Udpadhak Sahkari Samiti from Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand.
- Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT): Mr Dillip Kumar Pradhan from Anugul, Odisha, received first prize in the non‑NER category. Mr Vikas Kumar from Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, and Mrs Anuradha Chakali from Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, were awarded second and third prizes respectively. In the NER/Himalayan category, Mr Deluwar Hasan from Barpeta, Assam, was honoured.
Prize structure
- For the Best Dairy Farmer and Best Cooperative categories, cash awards of ₹5 lakh, ₹3 lakh and ₹2 lakh are given for first, second and third place respectively. Special awards for North‑Eastern and Himalayan states carry a prize of ₹2 lakh.
- For the Artificial Insemination Technician category, winners receive a certificate of merit and a memento. No cash prize is awarded in this category.
Significance
- Encouraging indigenous breeds: By rewarding farmers who rear native cattle and buffalo breeds, the awards promote genetic diversity, disease resistance and adaptation to local environments.
- Strengthening cooperatives: Recognising efficient dairy cooperatives motivates them to improve milk collection, processing and marketing practices, thereby enhancing rural livelihoods.
- Improving breeding services: Honouring skilled artificial insemination technicians underscores the importance of reproductive management for increasing milk productivity and genetic improvement.
Conclusion
The National Gopal Ratna Awards celebrate unsung heroes of India’s dairy sector. By highlighting best practices, they encourage farmers and cooperatives to continue conserving indigenous livestock and improving productivity, supporting the vision of an economically vibrant and sustainable dairy industry.
Source: Press Information Bureau