New Delhi – The long-standing demand to declare the cow as India’s national animal has received a clear response from the Centre. Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying S.P. Singh Baghel told Parliament on Tuesday that the central government will not introduce any law to grant cows national animal status.
Responding in the Lok Sabha to a query by senior BJP leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Baghel said, “No, sir. As per Article 246(3) of the Constitution, under the division of legislative powers between the Centre and the states, the protection of animals falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of state legislatures.” This means any legislation regarding cows can only be enacted by state governments.
The government informed the House that it has been running the National Gokul Mission since December 2014 to improve and protect indigenous cow breeds. Under this scheme, financial and technical assistance is provided to states and union territories for the upkeep and development of cattle.
On the dairy sector, Baghel shared that India’s total milk production in 2024 stood at 239.30 million tonnes, with cow milk accounting for 53.12 percent of the total. The figures underline the significant role of cow milk in the country’s dairy output.