Current Affairs

Milk and Milk Products

Milk and Milk Products

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India does not regulate the procurement and sale prices of milk. These are determined by cooperative and private dairies based on factors such as cost of production, stocks of dairy commodities (e.g., white butter, skimmed milk powder), and prevailing domestic and international market conditions. However, DAHD regularly monitors the milk situation in coordination with State Milk Federations and other stakeholders. There is a moderate increase in milk prices as reflected in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for milk. The CPI of milk since 2019 in the month of July is tabulated below:

 

Month and Year

INDEX

Annual rate of inflation %

July-2019

143.90

0.98

July-2020

153.50

6.67

July-2021

157.50

2.61

July-2022

166.70

5.84

July-2023

180.50

8.28

July-2024

186.00

3.05

July-2025

191.10

2.74

 

DAHD, GoI has not received any such representation/ report to indicate that increase in prices of packed and unpacked milk and dairy products affected the affordability of nutrients for children.

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India is implementing the following schemes across the country to complement and supplement the efforts of State Governments for development of milk production and milk processing infrastructure:

These schemes are helping in improving milk productivity of bovines, expanding network of dairy cooperatives, strengthening of dairy infrastructure, working capital requirement, enhancing availability of feed and fodder and providing animal health services. These interventions help to reduce the cost of milk production to enhance income of milk producer from dairy farming and also help to stabilize milk prices.

India ranks number one in milk production globally. During the year 2023-24, 239.3 Million Metric tonnes of milk is produced in the country which is more than 25% of the total world milk production. Milk production in country has increased by 63.56 % during the past 10 years from 146.3 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 239.30 million metric tonnes in 2023-24. Milk production in the country is growing at the annual growth rate of 5.7 % during the past 10 years and whereas, world milk production is growing at 2% per annum. Per capita availability of milk in the country is more than 471 gm/person/day during the year 2023-24 against the per capita availability of 322 gram/ person/ day in the world. The milk production in the country is by and large sufficient to meet the demand.

This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 19th August, 2025.

  1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM): RGM is implemented for development and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines.
  2. National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): NPDD is implemented with following 2 components: