Centre Rules Out Declaring Cow as National Animal in Parliament

Rapid Summary

• Union Minister S.P. Singh Baghel informed Parliament that the Center has no plans to declare cows as the national animal.
• Preservation of animals falls under State legislative powers as per Article 246(3) of the Constitution.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission, launched in December 2014, supports States and Union Territories in promoting and rearing cows.
• Cow milk contributed 53.12% of india’s total milk production of 239.30 million tonnes in 2024; buffalo milk accounted for 43.62%.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The recent clarification by Union Minister S.P. Singh Baghel reiterates the constitutional division of powers between the Centre and States, reinforcing state autonomy on matters like animal preservation under Article 246(3). This positions decisions such as declaring a national animal firmly within state jurisdiction unless broader resolutions are sought through collaboration or consensus.

Moreover, data on milk production underscores India’s reliance on both cow and buffalo populations, reflecting their critical role in food security and rural economies. With programs like Rashtriya Gokul mission driving support for cow welfare as 2014, policy efforts appear geared toward strengthening local initiatives rather of making centralized mandates-a cautious but balanced approach given diverse priorities across states.

Read More: Link