Maharashtra Declares Cow as 'Rajya Mata' Ahead of State Elections

The government cites the cow's cultural and agricultural significance and introduces a subsidy scheme to support indigenous cow rearing.

The Maharashtra government has granted 'Rajya Mata' status to indigenous cows, highlighting their spiritual, scientific, and historical importance.
The decision aims to support sustainable farming practices by promoting the use of cow dung for soil fertility and cow milk for human nutrition.
A new subsidy scheme will provide ₹50 per day for the rearing of indigenous cows in goshalas, managed by the Maharashtra Goseva Commission.
The move seeks to reverse the declining population of indigenous cows, which fell by 20.69% according to the 2019 animal census.
This announcement comes just before the upcoming state assembly elections, emphasizing the cow's role in India's cultural landscape since the Vedic period.