Quick answer: The National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) is a Central Sector Scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. It is in the news because a new microbiology laboratory for the Sikkim Milk Union, built under NPDD, was due to be inaugurated during the Union Minister’s visit to Sikkim on 2–3 November 2026.
Why the National Programme for Dairy Development is in the news
According to a PIB release of 2 November 2026, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) would tour Gangtok and Mangan districts of Sikkim on 2–3 November 2026. The visit covered projects and initiatives worth ₹251.56 lakh. The main items were:
- Inauguration of a microbiology laboratory for the Sikkim Milk Union under NPDD.
- Launch of work to set up 57 new Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs) under White Revolution 2.0, and registration certificates for five newly registered DCSs.
- Launch of 15 new DCSs in North Sikkim.
- A traceability initiative for Churpi cheese made in Gangtok and Jorethang.
- Promotion of two Fodder Plus Farmer Producer Organisations under the 10,000 FPO Scheme.
Key facts about NPDD
- Type: a Central Sector Scheme, run by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- Running since: 2014-15, according to a PIB release of August 2025.
- Aim: better quality milk and milk products, and a larger share of organised procurement, processing, value addition and marketing.
- Revised NPDD: approved by the Union Cabinet on 19 March 2025 with an extra ₹1,000 crore. This took the total to ₹2,790 crore for the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).
- Targets of the revised scheme: 10,000 new DCSs, two Milk Producer Companies, and about 3.2 lakh direct and indirect jobs. Women make up 70% of the dairy workforce.
- 2025-26 plan: DAHD approved state-wise targets for 21,902 new DCSs, with a total outlay of ₹407.37 crore.
The two components of NPDD
| Component | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Component A – dairy infrastructure | Milk chilling plants, advanced milk testing laboratories and certification systems. It also funds new village DCSs, procurement and processing in the North Eastern Region, hilly areas and Union Territories, and two Milk Producer Companies. |
| Component B – Dairying through Cooperatives (DTC) | Run with the Government of Japan and JICA. It covers nine states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. |
What NPDD has built so far
A PIB statement of 5 August 2025 gave the scheme’s national results up to that point:
- About 31,908 DCSs organised or revived.
- 17.63 lakh more milk producers enrolled.
- About 61,677 village-level milk testing laboratories set up.
- 5,995 bulk milk coolers with a combined chilling capacity of 149.35 lakh litres.
- 279 dairy plant laboratories upgraded with adulteration-detection systems, including FTIR-based milk analysers.
Sikkim’s dairy snapshot (PIB, November 2026)
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Milk production, 2024-25 | About 89.35 thousand metric tonnes |
| Per capita milk availability, 2024-25 | About 352 grams per day |
| NPDD projects sanctioned in Sikkim | 9 projects, outlay ₹59.60 crore (Central share ₹54.61 crore) |
| NPDD funds released / utilised | ₹53.59 crore / ₹52.61 crore |
| Rashtriya Gokul Mission release since 2014 | ₹7,093.99 lakh |
| Special project for indigenous Siri cattle | ₹2,763.92 lakh sanctioned |
Exam angle: how NDA, CDS and CAPF can ask this
- UPSC likes to test the difference between a Central Sector Scheme (fully funded and run by the Centre) and a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (cost shared with states). NPDD belongs to the first group.
- Questions on JICA-assisted projects and India–Japan cooperation can draw on Component B.
- Indigenous breeds such as Siri cattle (Sikkim) and products such as Churpi make good static-GK one-liners on the North East.
Practice MCQs
Q1. The National Programme for Dairy Development is implemented by:
(a) Ministry of Cooperation (b) Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (c) Ministry of Food Processing Industries (d) NABARD
Answer: (b) — DAHD, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
Q2. Component B of NPDD, “Dairying through Cooperatives”, is supported by:
(a) World Bank (b) Asian Development Bank (c) JICA (d) IFAD
Answer: (c) — it is run with the Government of Japan and JICA in nine states.
Q3. What was the total outlay of the revised NPDD for 2021-22 to 2025-26?
(a) ₹1,000 crore (b) ₹1,790 crore (c) ₹2,790 crore (d) ₹3,790 crore
Answer: (c) — ₹2,790 crore, after an extra ₹1,000 crore approved in March 2025.
Q4. Siri, mentioned in the Sikkim dairy release, is:
(a) a yak breed (b) an indigenous cattle breed (c) a goat breed (d) a fodder grass
Answer: (b) — a special project funds its development and conservation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Programme for Dairy Development?
NPDD is a Central Sector Scheme of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. It pays for dairy infrastructure such as chilling plants and quality labs, and helps villages form milk cooperatives.
What was inaugurated in Sikkim under NPDD?
A microbiology laboratory for the Sikkim Milk Union. It was part of the Union Minister’s visit to Gangtok and Mangan districts on 2–3 November 2026.
How much money does the revised NPDD have?
The Cabinet raised the outlay by ₹1,000 crore in March 2025. This brought the total to ₹2,790 crore for 2021-22 to 2025-26.
Which states are covered under the JICA-assisted component?
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Is NPDD a Centrally Sponsored Scheme?
No. The government describes NPDD as a Central Sector Scheme.
Also read on NCA: National Cooperative Development Corporation | Monthly defence current affairs PDFs | CAPF coaching in Chandigarh
Sources: PIB, 2 November 2026, PIB, Cabinet approval of revised NPDD (19 March 2025), PIB, NPDD progress (5 August 2025). Facts as reported up to 3 November 2026.
Featured image background (representative): Msclrfl22 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
