National animal status for cow? Centre gives details in Parliament - Here's what it said

NEW DELHI: Centre has no plans to bring any legislation declaring cow as the national animal, Union minister of state for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying, S P Singh Baghel, on Tuesday told Parliament.

In a written reply to BJP leader and former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Baghel said, "No, Sir. As per Article 246(3) of the Constitution, under the distribution of legislative powers between the Union and the States, the preservation of animals is a matter on which the State legislature has exclusive powers to legislate."

Rashtriya Gokul Mission in focus

Baghel noted that the Centre has been running the Rashtriya Gokul Mission since December 2014 to support and strengthen initiatives undertaken by states and union territories for the promotion, protection, and rearing of cows.

Cow milk production in India

Baghel also informed the Parliament that cow milk accounted for 53.12 per cent of India's total milk production og 239.30 million tonnes in 2024, while buffalo milk contributed 43.62%.