Invitation of nominations for National Gopal Ratna Award -2026

New Delhi:7/88/26:The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, is making all-out efforts for the effective development of the Animal Husbandry and Dairy sector to provide sustainable livelihood to the farmers. Indigenous bovine breeds of India are robust and possess the genetic potential to play a crucial role in the national economy. The “Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM)” was launched in December 2014, with a view to conserve and develop indigenous bovine breeds scientifically.

Under RGM, since 2021, this department has been conferringthe  National Gopal Ratna Award (NGRA) every year with an objective to recognize and encourage the efforts of Dairy farmers, dairy cooperative societies/MPC/FPOs and Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs). This year, nominations are also invited forthe  National Gopal Ratna Award 2026 for the following categories:

• Best Dairy farmer rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds ( details are provided in the guidelines).
• Best Dairy Cooperative Society (DCS)/Milk Producer Company (MPC)/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organization (FPO).
• Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT).

There is a provision of Special Award for North Eastern Region (NER) and Himalayan States so as to encourage and boost the dairy development activities in these States/UTs.

NGRA 2026 will be conferred to winners up to 1^st,2^nd, 3^rd ranks and one Special Award for North Eastern Region (NER)/Himalayan States in each category as mentioned above. NGRA 2026 will consist of a Certificate of Merit, a memento, and a monetary prize for two categories, i.e Best Dairy Farmer and Best DCS/FPO/MPCs as under:

• • Rs. 5,00,000/-(Rupee five lakh only) for 1st rank
  • Rs. 3,00,000/- (Rupee three lakh only) for 2nd rank and
  • Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rupee two lakh only) for 3rd rank
  • Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rupee two lakh only) -Special Award for North Eastern Region (NER)/Himalayan States.

In case of Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) category, National Gopal Ratna Award-2026 will consist of a Certificate of merit and a memento only. No cash prize will be provided inthe  Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) Category.

Nominations for National Gopal Ratna Award during 2026 can be submitted online only through National Award portal, i.e. https://awards.gov.in starting from 10.08. 202 6. The closing date for submission of nominations will be 10.09.2026. The awards are to be conferred on the occasion of National Milk Day (26^th Nov, 2026). For more details regarding eligibility criteria and guidelines,s the website https://awards.gov.in OR  https://dahd.nic.in may be referred to.