₹57 crore sanctioned for the free milch cow scheme – 10,000 rural women; G.O. issued

27 October 2026 · English Tamil Nadu

Topics: Tamil Nadu · 27 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

The Tamil Nadu Government issued a G.O. giving administrative and financial sanction of ₹57 crore for 2026–27 to give free milch cows to 10,000 eligible women in rural areas (reported 27 Oct 2026). Each beneficiary gets one healthy crossbred cow able to yield at least 8 litres of milk a day; each cow is expected to give 3–4 calves in five years. The scheme was announced in the 2026–27 State Budget presented on 5 Aug 2026 – '10,000 women every year'.

Key facts

Background

• History: the free milch cow and goat/sheep schemes were first launched in 2011 under CM J. Jayalalithaa. The target was 60,000 crossbred cows over five years, 2011–12 to 2015–16 (12,000 a year). Aavin collected milk daily from the beneficiary villages through its milk routes.
• Economy: India is the world's largest milk producer. 'Operation Flood' (1970), the 'White Revolution', was implemented by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB, Anand, Gujarat) under Dr Verghese Kurien; his birthday, 26 Nov, is National Milk Day.
• Structure: Tamil Nadu's apex dairy co-operative is the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation (TCMPF), brand 'Aavin' – a three-tier 'Anand pattern' of village primary milk producers' societies, district unions and the State federation.
• Polity: 'Preservation, protection and improvement of stock' is in the State List (Entry 15). Article 48 (DPSP) – organise agriculture and animal husbandry on scientific lines and prohibit slaughter of cows and calves.

Tamil Nadu link: native cattle breeds of Tamil Nadu – Kangayam (Tiruppur, Erode, Coimbatore, Karur), Umblachery (Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam – Cauvery delta), Bargur (Erode), Pulikulam (Madurai, Sivaganga), Alambadi (Dharmapuri, Salem). Aavin's average daily procurement had slipped to about 31.5 lakh litres (Aug 2026); the scheme is meant to raise milk output.

Source: Daily Thanthi, Dinamalar, ETV Bharat, 27 Oct 2026; DT Next (Budget, 5 Aug 2026); TN Animal Husbandry Policy Note 2016–17

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