11 February 2026·PIB

NATIONAL LIVESTOCK MISSION

In this note

1. At a Glance

Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, re-aligned in 2021-22 to focus on entrepreneurship, breed improvement, and feed/fodder development [2][3].
Provides 50% capital subsidy up to ₹50 lakh for rural breeding farms (poultry, sheep, goat, pig, camel, horse, donkey) and fodder value-addition units [1][4].
Relevant for GS-III (Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Food Security, Rural Livelihoods) and Prelims fact-questions on government schemes.

PIB release dated 11 February 2026 reiterated NLM-EDP's role as the end-to-end digitized entrepreneurship vehicle via portal nlm.udyamimitra.in, with subsidy coverage extended to arid and hilly regions [1].
Cabinet (2024) approved inclusion of additional activities in NLM, expanding scope to horse, camel, donkey breeding farms and fodder seed processing [2].

Launched: 2014-15 by DAHD to cover all activities of livestock development except dairy [2].
2021 Re-alignment: Approved by CCEA in July 2021 with an outlay of ₹2,300 crore under the Development Programme; restructured into 3 Sub-Missions [2].
2024: Cabinet approved addition of horse/camel/donkey breeding, fodder seed value-chain activities and insurance premium support [2].

Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying → DAHD [1].
Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS); central share varies by sub-component [2].
Outlay (2021 re-alignment): ₹2,300 crore [2].
Three Sub-Missions [2]: 1. Breed Improvement of Livestock & Poultry (rural poultry, sheep, goat, piggery; +equine/camelid post-2024). 2. Feed & Fodder — 100% incentive for fodder seed production by Central/State institutions; 50% capital subsidy (up to ₹50 lakh) for Hay, Silage, Total Mixed Ration (TMR), Fodder Block units. 3. Innovation & Extension — supports ICAR institutions, university farms, livestock insurance, applied research.
Eligible Beneficiaries: Individuals, FPOs, SHGs, JLGs, FCOs, Section 8 companies, Dairy Cooperative Societies [1][2].
Digital Portal: nlm.udyamimitra.in (end-to-end digitized) [1].
Achievement: 208 poultry projects approved between FY 2021-22 and 2025-26; expected to generate 1,201 jobs [3].

Economic

Targets employment generation through micro-entrepreneurship in livestock; goat/sheep/poultry farms expand non-farm rural income [2][3].
Boosts meat, egg, wool, goat-milk output — India is the world's largest milk producer but lags in meat/poultry value-chains.

Social

Administrative / Governance

Convergence with NABARD-routed subsidy disbursal and Udyami Mitra portal ensures transparency and faster sanctioning [1].
End-to-end digitization reduces middleman discretion.

Environmental

Feed & Fodder Sub-Mission addresses chronic green fodder deficit (~~35%~~) and dry fodder shortfall, reducing overgrazing pressure on commons.
Silage/TMR units lower methane intensity per unit livestock output.

2024: Cabinet approved additional activities — horse/camel/donkey breeding, fodder seed processing/grading/storage, livestock insurance premium subsidy [2].
Feb 2026 PIB: Reiterated full digitization via nlm.udyamimitra.in; emphasized arid/hilly coverage [1].
Cumulative (FY22-FY26): 208 poultry projects sanctioned; Haryana alone: 13 NLM-EDP projects, ₹4.06 crore subsidy, 62 jobs, 144 farmers benefited [3].

NLM launched in 2014-15 under DAHD [2].
Re-aligned in July 2021 by CCEA with outlay of ₹2,300 crore [2].
3 Sub-Missions: Breed Improvement; Feed & Fodder; Innovation & Extension [2].
Subsidy under NLM-EDP: 50% capital subsidy up to ₹50 lakh [1].
Implementing Ministry: Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (NOT Agriculture) [1].
Online portal: nlm.udyamimitra.in [1].
Eligible entities include Section 8 companies, FPOs, SHGs, JLGs, FCOs [1].
Fodder seed production by Central/State institutions: 100% incentive [2].
Species covered post-2024: poultry, sheep, goat, pig, camel, horse, donkey [1].
Fodder value-addition products: Hay, Silage, TMR, Fodder Blocks [1][2].
Innovation Sub-Mission backs ICAR institutions and university farms [2].
208 poultry projects approved FY22-FY26, generating ~1,201 jobs [3].

GS-III: Agriculture — Issues of buffer stocks and food security; Animal Husbandry economics; Inclusive growth; Government Schemes for vulnerable sections.
GS-II: Welfare schemes; implementation issues.

Plausible question stems:

"Discuss how the restructured National Livestock Mission addresses both productivity and entrepreneurship in India's livestock sector." (15 marks)
"India's livestock sector contributes ~30% of agri-GVA, yet faces a feed–fodder deficit. Critically examine the role of NLM's Feed & Fodder Sub-Mission." (10 marks)
"Examine the role of FPOs and SHGs in operationalizing schemes like NLM-EDP." (10 marks)

Rashtriya Gokul Mission — sister scheme for indigenous bovine breed development.
National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) — dairy infrastructure counterpart.
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) — ₹15,000 cr fund, complementary capital support.
Livestock Census 2019 — base data for sector planning.
PM Matsya Sampada Yojana — parallel scheme under same ministry.
Sub-Mission on Fodder & Feed Development (RKVY) — overlapping fodder mandate.
Operation Flood / NDDB — historical analogue in dairy.
One Health Approach & FMD-CP — disease control intersects with productivity.

Wrong Ministry trap: NLM is under Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, NOT Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare.
Dairy confusion: NLM does NOT cover dairy/cattle breeding — that falls under Rashtriya Gokul Mission / NPDD.
Year trap: Original launch 2014-15; re-alignment 2021 (CCEA). Many aspirants cite 2021 as launch year.
Subsidy cap: ₹50 lakh is the ceiling, not a flat grant; subsidy is 50% of project cost.
Sub-Mission count: Three (not four) — Breed, Feed/Fodder, Innovation & Extension.