Parliament Question: Strengthening veterinary infrastructure

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2145 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11th MARCH, 2026 STRENGTHENING VETERINARY INFRASTRUCTURE 2145 SHRI JAGGESH: Will the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has announced new measures to strengthen veterinary infrastructure, including mobile veterinary units and doorstep animal healthcare services across rural areas; (b) whether any credit-linked subsidy scheme has been introduced to promote private investment in veterinary colleges, hospitals, laboratories and livestock breeding facilities; (c) whether Government proposes to provide financial and institutional support to Livestock Farmer Producer Organisations and dairy cooperatives to enhance milk processing and value-addition infrastructure; (d) whether tax concessions and excise duty relief have been provided to promote cattle feed supplies and biogas production in the animal husbandry sector; and (e) if so, details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH) (a) and (b) As per Para 59 of the Budget announcement on 1.2.2026: “….to roll out a loan-linked capital subsidy support scheme for establishment of veterinary and paravet colleges, veterinary hospitals, diagnostic laboratories and breeding facilities in the private sector. Collaboration between Indian and foreign institutions…”. (c) to (e) As per Para 77 of the Budget announcement on 1.2.2026: “…. employment opportunities in rural and peri-urban areas, to support the Animal Husbandry Sector in entrepreneurship development through: (a) a Credit-Linked Subsidy Programme (b) scaling-up and modernisation of livestock enterprises (c) enhance creation of livestock, dairy and poultry-focused integrated-value chains and (d) encourage creation of Livestock Farmer Producers Organisations…”. Also, as per Para 121 of the Budget announcement on 1.2.2026: “….Deduction is already allowed to a primary cooperative society engaged in supplying milk, oilseeds, fruits or vegetables raised or grown by its members…”. “….to extend this deduction to also include supply of cattle feed and cotton seed produced by its members…”. Further, as per Para 154 of the Budget announcement on 1.2.2026: “….to exclude the entire value of biogas while calculating the Central Excise duty payable on biogas blended CNG. Exemption of Central Excise Duty on value of Biogas/Compressed Biogas (CBG) contained in Blended Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The value of Biogas/Compressed Biogas (CBG) and the appropriate Central Tax, State Tax, Union Territory Tax or Integrated Tax, as the case may be, paid on such Biogas or CBG contained in blended CNG, is being excluded from the transaction value for the purpose of computation of central excise duty on such blended CNG…”. ****