UPSC Prelims 2025 Q30: Indian Economy – Agriculture & Rural Development
Consider the following statements about the Rashtriya Gokul Mission:
I. It is important for the upliftment of rural poor as majority of low producing indigenous animals
are with small and marginal farmers and landless labourers.
II. It was initiated to promote indigenous cattle and buffalo rearing and conservation in a
scientific and holistic manner.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) I only
- (b) II only
- (c) Both I and II
- (d) Neither I nor II
Answer: (c) Both I and II
Explanation
Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) — Launched December 2014
| Statement | Claim | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| I | Mission is important for upliftment of rural poor | TRUE - small and marginal farmers + landless labourers own most of India's low-yield indigenous cattle. Improving these animals directly improves rural livelihoods. |
| II | Mission focuses on scientific breeding of indigenous cattle and buffalo | TRUE - RGM uses artificial insemination, genetic improvement, and sex-sorted semen to enhance milk yield of indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Tharparkar |
Both statements are correct.
Answer: (c) Both I and II.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Only Statement I alone is insufficient. Statement II about scientific breeding is also correct.
- (b) Incorrect. Only Statement II alone is insufficient. The rural poor uplift objective is central to the mission.
- (c) CORRECT. Both statements are accurate — RGM benefits rural poor who own most low-yield indigenous animals (I), and it does so through scientific breeding of indigenous cattle and buffalo (II).
- (d) Incorrect. Neither cannot be correct — both statements are well-documented facts about the mission.
Key point
Rashtriya Gokul Mission = scientific breeding (AI, genetic improvement) of indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds (Gir, Sahiwal) + rural poor upliftment. Both correct.
Remember
Rashtriya Gokul Mission = scientific breeding of indigenous cattle and buffalo, benefiting rural poor who own most low-yield animals.
Common mistakes
- Thinking RGM focuses on crossbreeding with foreign breeds. It explicitly focuses on indigenous breeds — Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Tharparkar, Murrah buffalo.
- Not knowing that rural poor own the majority of low-yielding indigenous cattle in India. Improving these animals has a direct impact on rural income and food security.
- Confusing RGM with the general National Dairy Development programme. RGM is specifically about indigenous breed improvement through scientific methods.
Exam tip
RGM = Indigenous breeds + scientific methods (AI, sex-sorted semen) + rural poor. Key breeds: Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi (cattle) and Murrah (buffalo). Mission is under Dept. of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Fisheries.
Sources
- Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying schemes
- Economic Survey - Agriculture and Animal Husbandry