Rashtriya Gokul Mission

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission works on the genetics of India's cattle and buffalo population — the development and conservation of indigenous breeds and the upgrading of milk yield through better breeding.

The Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme

This is the component most farmers encounter directly. Under it, high-genetic-merit semen is delivered to farmers' animals, free or at low cost, so a farmer does not need to own or access a quality bull.

Cumulative figures reported by the Department:

• 9.16 crore animals covered
• 14.12 crore artificial inseminations performed
• 5.55 crore farmers benefited

Funding

₹859.50 crore was released to states, Union Territories and the National Dairy Development Board in 2023-24, and ₹543.65 crore in 2024-25.

The official annexures publish the mission's reach and funding but not its per-farmer benefit terms or application conditions. For what you can get for your own animals, the operative source is your state animal husbandry department or your local veterinary centre.

• Artificial insemination of your cattle or buffalo with high-genetic-merit semen, under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme, delivered through the state animal husbandry machinery.
• Breed improvement, so the next generation of your herd yields more milk than the current one.
• Conservation and development of indigenous breeds.

Why this matters financially: the difference in lifetime milk yield between a well-bred and a poorly-bred animal is large, and artificial insemination is the cheapest way for a smallholder to access good genetics. The cost to you is usually minimal; the main input required is noticing when the animal is in heat and calling the inseminator promptly, since the window is short.

• Farmers and cattle owners with cattle or buffalo.
• The programme operates through state animal husbandry departments and the National Dairy Development Board, so delivery and any charge depend on your state.

• Delivery depends on the artificial insemination service being available in your area and on reaching the animal within the heat window.
• The official sources do not publish per-farmer terms or any charge. Confirm locally rather than assuming the service is free.

How to use it

1. Find your nearest veterinary centre, artificial insemination centre or Mobile Veterinary Unit through your village or block animal husbandry office.
2. Register your animal with them, and ask for the inseminator's contact number — this is the practical step that matters, because you will need to call at short notice.
3. When the animal comes into heat, call immediately. The effective window is short and a day's delay usually means waiting for the next cycle.
4. Ask the inseminator to record the breed and bull used and the insemination date, and keep that record. It matters for tracking your herd's improvement and for any later dispute.
5. Ask in the same visit about livestock insurance under the National Livestock Mission, and about the Mobile Veterinary Unit service in your area.

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying official website

• Animal details and any existing animal health or breeding record
• Identity proof
• Registration with the local veterinary or AI centre