UGC asks all universities in country to ‘encourage’ students to appear for exam on ‘cow science’

In a notice sent to all universities across the nation on Monday, University Grants Commission (UGC) Secretary Rajnish Jain has told the vice-chancellors to “encourage” their students to take the ‘Kamdhenu Gau Vigyan Prachar-Prasar Examination’, a national-level ‘exam’ being planned to test people’s knowledge of ‘gau vigyan’ or ‘cow science’

The ‘exam’, which will be conducted online on 25 February, will be open to students studying in primary, secondary and senior secondary schools, and even colleges, as per media reports.

Established in February 2019, Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA), functioning under the aegis of Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, has been working on dissemination of information on economic, scientific, environmental, health, agriculture and ‘spiritual relevance of indigenous cow in the country’.

RKA chief Vallabhbhai Kathiria had announced the exams in January, saying, “Gau mata is revered in India, but not much has been done to educate the masses about its qualities over the past few years.”

The exam will not only serve as an “informative exam” but also make Indians aware of the “unexplored potential and business opportunities a cow can offer, even after it stops giving milk”, he had added.