02 JUNE 2025

US FDA Approves Moderna’s New COVID-19 Vaccine “MnexSpike”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Moderna’s new COVID-19 vaccine, named mNEXSPIKE (mRNA-1283). This next-generation vaccine is indicated for use in adults aged 65 years and older, and individuals aged 12 to 64 years with at least one underlying risk factor for severe COVID-19.

The approval of mNEXSPIKE is seen as a crucial step in providing updated protection against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants, especially as health authorities prepare for the 2025-2026 respiratory virus season. The new vaccine demonstrated higher efficacy compared to Moderna’s original Spikevax vaccine in clinical trials and offers operational advantages like improved storage.

MnexSpike:

• Enhanced Efficacy: Phase 3 clinical trial data (NextCOVE study) showed that mNEXSPIKE (mRNA-1283) elicited a stronger immune response and higher relative vaccine efficacy against COVID-19 compared to the original Spikevax (mRNA-1273) vaccine, particularly in older adults (65+).
• Targeted Protection: The approval aligns with current recommendations to prioritize vaccination for older adults and high-risk individuals who are more vulnerable to severe outcomes from COVID-19.
• mRNA Technology: Like its predecessor, MnexSpike is an mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine.
• Lower Dose Potential & Formulation: While detailed dosage specifics are part of the approval, Moderna has been working on next-generation vaccines that could offer strong protection with potentially lower doses or improved formulations. MnexSpike comes in a pre-filled syringe format and has improved storage capabilities (can be stored between 2°C to 8°C for up to 90 days), which can ease the burden on healthcare providers.
• Safety Profile: The safety profile of mNEXSPIKE was found to be comparable to other approved COVID-19 vaccines, with common side effects including injection site pain, fatigue, and headache.
• Availability: Moderna expects the vaccine to be available for the upcoming 2025-2026 respiratory season.

Understanding mRNA Vaccine Technology (Simplified):

Imagine your body’s cells are like tiny factories. An mRNA vaccine doesn’t inject a weakened or dead virus. Instead, it delivers a set of instructions (the mRNA) to these cell factories.

1. Instructions Delivered: The mRNA in the vaccine carries instructions to produce a specific, harmless piece of the virus – in the case of COVID-19, a piece of the “spike protein” found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
2. Cells Make the Protein: Your cells read these instructions and start making copies of this spike protein piece.
3. Immune System Responds: Your immune system recognizes that this spike protein piece doesn’t belong there and starts building a defense against it by creating antibodies.
4. Instructions Degrade: After delivering the instructions, the mRNA itself is quickly broken down and eliminated by the cells. It does not enter the cell’s nucleus and does not alter your DNA.
5. Future Protection: Now, if you are exposed to the actual SARS-CoV-2 virus later, your immune system remembers the spike protein and is ready to fight off the virus quickly, preventing severe illness.

Advantages of mRNA vaccines:

• Speed of Development: Can be designed and manufactured more rapidly than traditional vaccines, which is crucial during pandemics.
• Safety: They do not contain live virus, so they cannot cause the disease they are protecting against.
• High Efficacy: Have shown high levels of effectiveness.

COVID-19 Variants and Vaccine Updates:

• Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 naturally mutate over time, leading to new variants. Some variants may spread more easily, cause more severe disease, or evade the protection offered by existing vaccines or prior infection.
• This necessitates ongoing surveillance of circulating variants and, when required, updating vaccines to better match these new strains, similar to how annual flu vaccines are updated.
• The WHO and national advisory bodies regularly assess the genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and make recommendations on the composition of future COVID-19 vaccines. For instance, the WHO recently recommended monovalent vaccines targeting newer strains like JN.1 or KP.2.

ADB Pledges $10 Billion for India’s Urban Transformation, Focus on PM Gati Shakti

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced a major $10 billion, five-year initiative to support the transformation of India’s urban infrastructure. This landmark commitment was unveiled following a meeting between ADB President Masato Kanda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi around June 1, 2025.

The substantial funding aims to accelerate the development of sustainable and resilient urban centres across India, focusing on critical areas such as metro rail extensions, new Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors, and comprehensive upgrades to essential urban services. This initiative is also set to align with and bolster flagship programs like the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aiming for integrated and efficient infrastructure development.

ADB Funding Initiative:

• Substantial Investment: A commitment of up to $10 billion over five years, which will include a mix of sovereign loans, private sector financing, and mobilization of third-party capital.
• Focus on Urban Mobility & Services: Key areas include:
  • Expanding existing metro networks and developing new ones.
  • Building new RRTS corridors for improved regional connectivity.
  • Modernizing essential urban infrastructure and services like water supply, sanitation, solid waste management, and affordable housing.
• Support for Urban Challenge Fund (UCF): The initiative will be anchored around India’s flagship Urban Challenge Fund (UCF), which ADB is supporting to attract private investment into urban infrastructure projects.
• Technical Assistance: ADB will also provide $3 million in technical assistance to help design bankable projects and enhance the institutional capacity of state governments and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
• Alignment with Viksit Bharat @ 2047: ADB President Masato Kanda emphasized that this support aligns with India’s “bold vision” of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, aiming to transform India into a developed nation by its 100th year of independence.
• Job Creation and Skill Development: Beyond infrastructure, ADB will also support skill development through initiatives like the National Industrial Training Institute Upgradation Programme to boost manufacturing competitiveness and create quality jobs, particularly for India’s youth.

Asian Development Bank (ADB):

• Establishment: Founded in 1966, with headquarters in Manila, Philippines.
• Mission: Dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.
• Membership: Owned by 69 members, with 50 from the Asia-Pacific region (including India, a founding member) and 19 from outside.
• Operations: ADB assists its developing member countries by providing loans, technical assistance, grants, and equity investments to promote social and economic development. It also facilitates policy dialogues and provides advisory services.
• India and ADB: India is one of the largest borrowers from ADB. The bank has been a key partner in India’s development journey, supporting projects in sectors like transport, energy, urban development, agriculture, and skills development. ADB’s country partnership strategy for India (2023–2027) commits to providing over $5 billion in financing each year.

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan:

• Launch: October 2021.
• Objective: A transformative approach for integrated and holistic planning of infrastructure connectivity projects. It aims to break down inter-ministerial silos and ensure coordinated project execution.
• Digital Platform: It is essentially a digital platform that brings together 16 Ministries (including Railways and Roadways) for integrated planning and mapping of projects using geospatial technology.
• Six Pillars: Comprehensiveness, Prioritization, Optimization, Synchronization, Analytical, and Dynamic.
• Focus: To provide multi-modal connectivity, reduce logistics costs, improve competitiveness, and create a seamless network for the movement of people, goods, and services. ADB’s support for projects aligned with PM Gati Shakti principles (like the SMILE program for logistics) is crucial.

Rural Women Embrace Digital Finance: UPI & Online Banking See Major Surge

Recent government survey data reveals a remarkable surge in the number of rural women capable of performing online banking and UPI (Unified Payments Interface) transactions. This trend underscores the growing financial inclusion and digital literacy among women in India’s hinterlands, largely enabled by increased mobile phone penetration and targeted government initiatives.

According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) Comprehensive Modular Survey: Telecom (CMS:T), 2025, conducted as part of the 80th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) in early 2025, the progress has been particularly noteworthy.

Rural Women’s Digital Leap:

• Significant Jump in Online Banking: The proportion of rural women (aged 15 years and above) who reported the ability to perform online banking transactions surged to 30.0% in the first quarter of 2025. This is a substantial increase from 17.1% recorded in 2022-23.
• Youth Leading the Way: The transformation is even more pronounced among young rural women. In the 15-24 years age bracket, 51.4% of females in rural areas reported the ability to perform online banking, more than doubling from 19.6% in 2022-23.
• UPI as the Key Enabler: The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as the dominant platform for these transactions. A very high percentage of those conducting online banking, including rural women, are reportedly using UPI, highlighting its ease of use and accessibility.
• Increased Internet and Mobile Usage: This digital financial empowerment is underpinned by rising mobile phone ownership and internet usage among rural women. The survey indicated that 57.6% of rural females used the internet in the three months before the survey, up from 42.6% in 2022-23.

Factors Contributing to the Surge:

• Increased Smartphone Penetration: Growing affordability and availability of smartphones in rural areas.
• Improved Internet Connectivity: Expansion of mobile internet services into rural India.
• Simplicity of UPI: The user-friendly interface of UPI has made digital payments accessible even to those with limited digital literacy.
• Government Push for Digital Payments: Initiatives promoting digital transactions post-demonetization and during the pandemic.
• Role of Self-Help Groups (SHGs): SHGs have been instrumental in promoting financial literacy and encouraging digital adoption among their members.
• Awareness and Digital Literacy Programs: Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) have played a role.
• Jan Dhan Accounts: The foundation of bank accounts provided under PMJDY, with a majority held by women, has been crucial.

Relevant Government Initiatives:

• Digital India Program: A flagship program to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. Key pillars include digital infrastructure, digital literacy, and digitally delivered services.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): A national mission for financial inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely banking/savings & deposit accounts, remittance, credit, insurance, pension in an affordable manner. A significant number of account holders are women.
• National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM – Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana): Focuses on organizing rural poor women into Self Help Groups (SHGs), building their capacities, and linking them with banks for financial services. Many SHGs are now being trained in digital financial literacy.
• Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA): A scheme to make digitally literate at least one person in every rural household across India.
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI): An instant real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) facilitating inter-bank transactions.

RBI Drafts New Gold Loan Rules; FinMin Seeks Relief for Small Borrowers

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has proposed a new set of draft guidelines for gold loans, aiming to create a more harmonized regulatory framework for all lenders, enhance transparency, and protect the interests of borrowers. These draft directions, issued in April 2025 and currently under review after stakeholder feedback, come amidst a significant surge in the gold loan portfolios of banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), driven by rising gold prices and increased credit demand.

While the RBI’s intent is to standardize practices and curb irregularities, the Union Ministry of Finance has stepped in with suggestions, urging the central bank to exempt small borrowers (with loans up to ₹2 lakh) from some of the more stringent proposed norms. The Finance Ministry has also recommended that the new guidelines be implemented from January 1, 2026, to allow sufficient time for operational adjustments at the field level.

RBI’s Draft Gold Loan Guidelines:

• Standardized Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio: The draft proposes capping the LTV ratio at 75% of the value of gold for all gold loans meant for consumption purposes across all regulated entities (banks, NBFCs, cooperative banks, RRBs). For bullet repayment loans, the interest component must also be included within this LTV cap, potentially reducing the disbursable loan amount.
• Valuation and Assaying of Gold:
  • Only gold jewellery, ornaments, and specially minted bank-issued gold coins (22-carat or higher) are eligible as collateral. Primary gold like bars or bullion is not allowed.
  • Silver jewellery and bank-issued silver coins are also proposed to be accepted as collateral under specific conditions.
  • Lenders must adopt a standardized procedure for assaying the purity of gold, conducted by qualified assayers in the borrower’s presence.
  • Gold is to be valued based on the 22-carat price, using the lower of the 30-day average closing price or the previous day’s closing price.
• Proof of Ownership: Borrowers will need to provide proof of ownership for the pledged gold. A declaration explaining ownership can be submitted if purchase receipts are unavailable. Loans are not to be extended if ownership is doubtful.
• Caps on Collateral: The aggregate weight of gold ornaments pledged by a single borrower is proposed to be capped at 1 kilogram, and gold coins at 50 grams.
• Purpose-Based Lending and Monitoring:
  • Distinction between consumption loans and income-generating loans.
  • Lenders must monitor the end-use of income-generating loans and, for consumption loans above a certain threshold, may also track fund usage.
  • The same collateral cannot be used concurrently for both consumption and income-generating loans.
• Repayment and Collateral Return:
  • Bullet repayment for consumption loans is capped at a 12-month tenure.
  • Upon full repayment, lenders must return the gold collateral within 7 working days, failing which a penalty of ₹5,000 per day is payable to the borrower.
• Auction Process Transparency: In case of default, lenders must provide at least one month’s notice before auctioning the gold. Auctions must be publicly advertised, with a reserve price not below 90% of the current market value. Any surplus from the auction must be returned to the borrower within 7 days.
• Documentation and Transparency: Loan agreements must be clear, detailing the gold’s description, value, auction procedures, and all charges, preferably in the borrower’s preferred language.

Gold Loans in India:

• Gold loans are secured loans where individuals pledge gold ornaments or coins as collateral to borrow money.
• They are popular due to quick disbursal, minimal documentation (compared to other loans), and the emotional and financial value attached to gold in Indian households.
• They serve various purposes, from meeting emergency expenses (medical, education) and consumption needs to funding small businesses and agricultural activities.
• Both banks and specialized gold loan NBFCs are major players in this market.

Ayush Ministry Launches “Ayush Suraksha Portal” to Combat Misleading Ads

The Union Ministry of Ayush has launched the “Ayush Suraksha Portal.” This dedicated digital platform by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, aims to tackle the issue of misleading advertisements related to Ayush products and services and also monitor Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs).

The portal is designed to serve as a “vigilant watchtower against misinformation,” empowering both citizens and healthcare professionals to report concerns and ensuring that only safe and credible Ayush products and information reach the public. This initiative also comes in compliance with a Supreme Court directive (July 2024) that emphasized the need for a centralized mechanism to monitor and publish data on misleading advertisements and ADRs in the Ayush sector.

Features and Objectives of the Ayush Suraksha Portal:

• Centralized Reporting System: Allows consumers, healthcare professionals, and regulatory authorities to directly report misleading advertisements or adverse drug reactions related to Ayush products and therapies.
• Real-time Monitoring and Tracking: Provides a centralized dashboard for reported cases, enabling real-time tracking, swift regulatory action by concerned authorities, and detailed data analysis.
• Multi-Stakeholder Integration: Integrates data and facilitates coordination among various stakeholders, including State Licensing Authorities, national pharmacovigilance centres, the Ayush vertical under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), the National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH), the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• Transparency and Accountability: Users who report issues can track the status of their reports and view subsequent regulatory actions, fostering transparency and accountability within the Ayush ecosystem.
• Pharmacovigilance Enhancement: Strengthens the pharmacovigilance framework for Ayush systems, ensuring better safety monitoring of drugs and therapies.
• Empowering Citizens: Enables the public to become active participants in safeguarding the integrity and safety of Ayush systems.
• Technical Support: Developed with technical support from the Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS) and aligned with the National Pharmacovigilance Program.

Understanding Ayush Systems and the Ministry of Ayush:

• Ayush: An acronym for Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. These are traditional and complementary systems of medicine prevalent in India.
• Ministry of Ayush: Formed in November 2014 with a vision to revive the profound knowledge of ancient Indian systems of medicine and ensure the optimal development and propagation of Ayush systems of healthcare.
  • Mandate: Includes education, research, drug development, standardization, quality control, and promotion of these traditional systems.
  • Key Initiatives: National Ayush Mission (NAM), International Day of Yoga, Ayush Health and Wellness Centres, research portals, and collaborations for global promotion.

The Problem of Misleading Advertisements in the Ayush Sector:

• The growing popularity of Ayush systems has unfortunately been accompanied by an increase in misleading advertisements that make exaggerated or unsubstantiated claims about curing various ailments, often targeting vulnerable consumers.
• Such advertisements can lead to:
  • Financial loss for consumers.
  • Delay in seeking appropriate medical treatment.
  • Potential health risks from using unverified products.
  • Erosion of public trust in genuine Ayush practices.

How the Ayush Suraksha Portal Aims to Help:

• By providing a single, accessible platform for reporting, the portal streamlines the process of identifying and acting against misleading advertisements.
• The integrated approach involving multiple regulatory bodies ensures a more coordinated and effective response.
• The public availability of data on action taken can act as a deterrent for potential violators and build consumer confidence.
• It supports the efforts of State Licensing Authorities who are primarily responsible for enforcing regulations at the ground level.

Existing Regulatory Frameworks for Advertisements:

Besides this new portal, advertisements in India, including those for health products, are governed by several laws and codes:

• The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954: This Act prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to cure certain specified diseases and disorders or those that are otherwise misleading. It applies to all systems of medicine, including Ayush.
• The Consumer Protection Act, 2019: Empowers consumers to file complaints against misleading advertisements. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has been established under this Act to regulate matters relating to false or misleading advertisements.
• The Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act, 1995: Contains an advertising code that prohibits misleading advertisements.
• Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI): A self-regulatory voluntary organization of the advertising industry that sets codes for ethical advertising and considers complaints against misleading ads. The Ministry of Ayush has previously collaborated with ASCI to monitor Ayush-related advertisements.

Karnataka Ups Ante on Tobacco: Legal Age Now 21, Hookah Bars Banned

In a significant move to safeguard public health, particularly that of its youth, the Karnataka government has enacted stricter tobacco control measures by officially bringing into force the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Karnataka Amendment) Act, 2024. The amended law, which received Presidential assent on May 23, 2025, and was notified in the state gazette on May 30, 2025, notably raises the minimum legal age for purchasing and selling tobacco products from 18 to 21 years and imposes a complete ban on operating hookah bars across the state.

These stringent measures aim to curb the growing menace of tobacco addiction, reduce the exposure of young adults to harmful tobacco products, and address the health risks associated with hookah smoking, which is often perceived incorrectly as less harmful than cigarettes.

Provisions of the Karnataka Amendment Act:

• Increased Legal Age: The minimum age to purchase, sell, or offer for sale any cigarettes or other tobacco products is now 21 years, up from the previous 18 years.
• Complete Ban on Hookah Bars: A new Section 4A prohibits the opening or running of any hookah bar in any place, including eateries, pubs, bars, or restaurants.
  • Penalties for Hookah Bar Operations: Violators face imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, which may extend to three years, and a fine ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh (under the newly added Section 21A).
• Prohibition on Sale of Loose Cigarettes: The sale of loose cigarettes or single sticks is now prohibited.
• Stricter Enforcement Around Educational Institutions: The sale of tobacco products is banned within a radius of 100 meters of any educational institution.
• Expanded Definition of “Use” of Tobacco: The definition of “use” of tobacco in public places has been expanded to include both smoking and spitting of tobacco.
• Increased Fines for Public Smoking: The fine for smoking in public places or selling tobacco to individuals below the newly defined legal age (21 years) has been significantly increased from ₹200 to ₹1,000.
• Designated Smoking Areas: Provisions for designated smoking areas continue in hotels with 30 or more rooms, restaurants with a seating capacity of 30 or more, and at airports.

Health Hazards of Tobacco and Hookah:

• Tobacco Use: Is a leading cause of preventable deaths globally, linked to various cancers (lung, oral, throat), cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses (COPD, emphysema), and reproductive health issues.
• Hookah Smoking – Not a Safe Alternative:
  • Despite passing through water, hookah smoke contains numerous toxins, including high levels of nicotine (the addictive substance), tar, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogens.
  • A typical one-hour hookah session can involve inhaling 100-200 times the volume of smoke inhaled from a single cigarette.
  • Hookah smoking is associated with lung cancer, oral cancer, heart disease, and other serious conditions.
  • Sharing hookah mouthpieces also poses a risk of transmitting infectious diseases like tuberculosis, herpes, and hepatitis.
  • Even so-called “herbal” hookahs are considered harmful due to the combustion process and the presence of carbon monoxide and other toxins from the charcoal used to heat the tobacco/herbal mixture.

India’s National Tobacco Control Efforts:

• Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003: The primary central legislation governing tobacco control in India. It includes provisions for:
  • Prohibiting smoking in public places.
  • Banning advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products.
  • Prohibiting sale to minors (the central act still specifies 18 years, which states can make stricter).
  • Mandating pictorial health warnings on tobacco product packages.
• National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP): Launched to strengthen the implementation of COTPA, create awareness, and provide tobacco cessation services.
• Ban on E-cigarettes: India banned e-cigarettes in 2019 due to health concerns and their appeal to youth.

World Milk Day 2025: “Let’s Celebrate the Power of Dairy”

World Milk Day, observed annually on June 1st, is a global initiative established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2001. The day aims to recognize the importance of milk as a global food and to celebrate the contributions of the dairy sector to nutrition, livelihoods, and economies worldwide. For 2025, the theme is “Let’s Celebrate the Power of Dairy,” inviting a focus on dairy’s crucial role in sustainable agriculture, community livelihoods, and global nutrition.

Key Objectives and Significance of World Milk Day:

• Highlight Nutritional Value: To emphasize the importance of milk as a nutrient-rich food, providing essential calcium, protein, vitamins (like D and B12), and minerals crucial for growth, bone health, and overall well-being.
• Recognize Dairy Sector’s Contribution: To acknowledge the dairy industry’s role in supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers and contributing to rural economies.
• Promote Sustainable Dairying: To encourage discussions and practices related to sustainable dairy farming, including animal welfare, environmental management, and resource efficiency.
• Global Awareness: To create a global platform for sharing information and experiences related to milk production, consumption, and its role in food security.

India: The World’s Dairy Powerhouse

India holds the distinction of being the world’s largest milk producer, accounting for nearly 25% of global milk production. This remarkable achievement is largely due to the visionary Operation Flood, also known as the White Revolution.

• Operation Flood (1970-1996):
  • Launched by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) under the leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien, revered as the “Father of the White Revolution in India.”
  • Objectives: Increase milk production (“a flood of milk”), augment rural incomes, and provide fair prices for consumers.
  • Strategy: Replicated the Anand pattern of dairy cooperatives, empowering farmers by linking them directly to consumers through a national milk grid. It involved creating a three-tiered structure: village-level dairy cooperative societies, district-level milk unions, and state-level milk federations.
  • Impact: Transformed India from a milk-deficient nation to the world’s largest milk producer. It significantly improved rural livelihoods, reduced poverty, empowered women (who form a large part of the dairy workforce), and ensured a steady supply of milk to urban consumers.

Nutritional Importance of Milk:

• Milk is considered a complete food due to its balanced composition of essential nutrients:
  • Calcium: Crucial for strong bones and teeth.
  • Protein: Essential for growth, muscle repair, and overall body function.
  • Vitamins: Rich in Vitamin D (often fortified, aids calcium absorption), Vitamin B12 (important for nerve function and red blood cell formation), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), and Vitamin A.
  • Minerals: Contains phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.
• Regular consumption of milk and dairy products is vital for children’s growth and development and helps maintain bone health throughout life.

Government Initiatives for Dairy Development in India:

The Government of India has launched several schemes to boost the dairy sector:

• National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): Aims to create and strengthen infrastructure for milk procurement, processing, and quality milk testing. It supports the formation of dairy cooperative societies and enhances market access for farmers. The revised NPDD (2021-22 to 2025-26) has an enhanced outlay to further modernize dairy infrastructure.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): Launched in 2014 to develop and conserve indigenous bovine breeds in a scientific manner. It focuses on enhancing milk production and productivity of indigenous cattle, setting up Gokul Grams (integrated cattle development centres), and promoting artificial insemination.
• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF): Aims to incentivize investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSMEs, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and Section 8 companies to establish dairy processing and value addition infrastructure, and meat processing and value addition infrastructure.
• National Livestock Mission (NLM): Focuses on sustainable development of the livestock sector, including breed development, feed and fodder development, and skill development.
• Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP): Aims to prevent, control, and eradicate animal diseases, which is crucial for maintaining livestock productivity

 

 

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