National Livestock Mission
राष्ट्रीय पशुधन मिशन
A 50% back-ended capital subsidy — up to ₹25 lakh for rural poultry, ₹50 lakh for sheep/goat or feed-fodder, and ₹30 lakh for piggery — for setting up a livestock entrepreneurship unit.
- Outlay
- ₹2,300 crore, revised from FY2021-22
- Running since
- 2014-15, guidelines revised January 2025
- Scheme status
- Active
- Entrepreneurship subsidy
- 50% capital subsidy, back-ended in two instalments
- Poultry unit cap
- Up to ₹25 lakh
- Sheep/goat unit cap
- Up to ₹50 lakh
- Piggery unit cap
- Up to ₹30 lakh
- Application mode
- nlm.udyamimitra.in portal
Overview
National Livestock Mission has been implemented by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying since 2014-15, and was revised and realigned from FY2021-22 with an outlay of ₹2,300 crore. It targets employment generation and entrepreneurship in the small ruminant (sheep/goat), poultry, pig, camel, donkey, mule, horse and fodder sectors, alongside breed improvement and risk-management measures including livestock insurance.
The scheme runs through several sub-missions: entrepreneurship development for rural poultry, small ruminants and piggery; genetic improvement of sheep/goat, equine and pig breeds; feed and fodder development; research, extension and innovation; and livestock insurance. Each entrepreneurship component pays a one-time, back-ended capital subsidy — half on starting the project, half on its verified completion — rather than a recurring payment.
Applications go through the Department's own portal, www.nlm.udyamimitra.in, and are handhold by a Project Management Agency and the State Animal Husbandry Department. An applicant needs either relevant training/experience, a bank-sanctioned loan with appraisal, or land already secured for the project (except for FPOs/FCOs/SHGs/JLGs, for which separate criteria apply), and must be able to run the unit for at least three years after completion.
Scheme highlights
50% capital subsidy
A one-time, back-ended capital subsidy on bank-loan-anchored or self-financed projects across poultry, sheep/goat, piggery and feed-fodder units.
Rural poultry entrepreneurship
Up to ₹25 lakh subsidy for breed development and rural poultry units, aimed at low-input, backyard-friendly birds.
Sheep & goat, and piggery units
Up to ₹50 lakh for a sheep/goat unit and ₹30 lakh for a piggery unit, in two equal instalments.
Livestock insurance
A dedicated sub-mission promotes risk management through livestock insurance, alongside the entrepreneurship components.
Feed & fodder development
Supports fodder seed production, silage-making units and fodder-block-making units — up to ₹50 lakh subsidy on a feed/fodder entrepreneurship unit.
What you get
Back-ended capital subsidy
First instalment (of the 50%) released once the beneficiary has spent 25% from their own share; the remainder on verified project completion.
Who benefits
Individuals, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Farmers' Cooperatives (FCOs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and Section 8 companies.
Multiple entrepreneurship routes
Rural poultry, small ruminants (sheep/goat), piggery, and feed/fodder — each with its own subsidy ceiling and eligible-item list.
Insurance and breed-improvement support
Runs alongside genetic-improvement programmes for sheep/goat and pig breeds, and a dedicated livestock-insurance sub-mission.
Who is eligible
Both lists come from the notified operational guidelines — meeting the left column is not enough if anything in the right column applies to your family.
You qualify if
- Individual, Self-Help Group (SHG), FPO, Farmers' Cooperative (FCO), Joint Liability Group (JLG) or Section 8 company
- Has relevant training, trained experts, or sufficient experience managing a similar project — or technical experts with that experience
- Has a bank-sanctioned loan with project appraisal, or is able to self-finance with the required margin money
- Owns or has leased the project land (a separate procedure applies for FPOs/FCOs/SHGs/JLGs)
- Can run the project for a minimum of three years after completion
- Can provide at least 10% of project cost as margin money, and has KYC documents in order
Excluded — even with land
- No land arrangement, and not an FPO/FCO/SHG/JLG eligible for the separate land procedure
- Cannot demonstrate relevant training, experience, or a bank-appraised loan sanction
- Cannot commit to running the project for at least three years post-completion
- Project falls outside the listed entrepreneurship categories (rural poultry, sheep/goat, piggery, equine, feed/fodder)
Where this scheme applies
A central scheme with pan-India coverage — open to eligible farmers in every State and Union Territory.
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — the online form takes ten minutes when nothing is missing.
Project proposal / DPR
Covering the unit size, cost, and the eligible items list for the specific component being applied under.
KYC documents
Identity and address proof for the applicant or, for a group entity, its authorised signatory.
Land ownership or lease proof
For the project site — a separate procedure applies for FPOs, FCOs, SHGs and JLGs.
Bank account and loan sanction (if financed)
Bank account for subsidy credit, and the loan sanction letter with project appraisal, where the project is bank-financed.
Bank guarantee
Valid for three years, covering the subsidy amount sought, as required by the scheme's standard operating procedure.
How to apply, step by step
The same six steps apply whether you register yourself online or sit down at a CSC.
- 1
Choose your entrepreneurship component
Pick the sub-mission that matches your unit — rural poultry, sheep/goat, piggery, or feed/fodder — each has its own subsidy ceiling and eligible-item list.
- 2
Prepare the proposal and arrange land/finance
Draft the project proposal, arrange the project land, and either secure a bank loan with project appraisal or arrange the margin money for self-financing.
- 3
Apply via the NLM Udyami Mitra portal
Submit the proposal through www.nlm.udyamimitra.in — the State Implementing Agency and the Project Management Agency handhold the application.
- 4
Approval
The proposal is scrutinised and approved by the State Implementing Agency in coordination with the Department; a bank guarantee covering the subsidy sought is furnished.
- 5
First instalment of subsidy
Released once the beneficiary has spent at least 25% of the project cost from their own share, verified by the State Implementing Agency.
- 6
Completion and final instalment
The remaining subsidy is released once the project is completed and verified — the unit must then be run for at least three years.
Important dates
Running since
2014-15
Revised and realigned
FY2021-22
Outlay ₹2,300 crore
Latest operational guidelines
January 2025
Facts last checked
2026-08-03
Against the January 2025 NLM Comprehensive Operational Guidelines, dahd.gov.in
Check your eligibility
Straight from the notified criteria. Nothing you enter leaves your phone.
0 of 6 answered
This checker applies the criteria in the official operational guidelines, but it is guidance — only the state government’s verification against the land records is final.
Downloads
Official documents only — everything below is hosted on the government's own servers.
Official links & helpline
Bookmark the portal itself — no third-party site can release, block or speed up a payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the National Livestock Mission?
A Government of India centrally sponsored scheme, running since 2014-15 and revised from FY2021-22 with an outlay of ₹2,300 crore, that supports entrepreneurship development, breed improvement, fodder development and livestock insurance across poultry, sheep, goat, pig, camel, donkey, mule and horse.
How much subsidy does NLM give for a poultry unit?
Up to ₹25 lakh — a one-time 50% capital subsidy on the total project cost for a rural poultry breed-development entrepreneurship unit, released in two equal instalments.
How much subsidy does NLM give for a sheep or goat unit?
Up to ₹50 lakh — 50% of the total project cost as capital subsidy, released in two equal instalments, for a sheep and goat entrepreneurship-development unit.
How much subsidy does NLM give for a piggery unit?
Up to ₹30 lakh — the Central Government provides 50% capital subsidy on the project cost, subject to that ceiling, for a piggery entrepreneurship unit.
Does NLM cover fodder and feed units too?
Yes — the Feed and Fodder Development sub-mission supports fodder seed production, silage-making units and fodder-block-making units, with a subsidy of up to ₹50 lakh on an eligible feed/fodder entrepreneurship unit, alongside separate support for fodder seed (breeder, foundation and certified seed) production.
How is the NLM subsidy released?
As a back-ended capital subsidy in two equal instalments — the first once the beneficiary has spent at least 25% of the project cost from their own share (verified by the State Implementing Agency), and the second on verified completion of the project. It is not paid upfront.
Who is eligible to apply for NLM entrepreneurship support?
Individuals, Self-Help Groups, Farmer Producer Organisations, Farmers' Cooperatives, Joint Liability Groups and Section 8 companies, provided they have relevant experience or technical support, project land, and either a bank-sanctioned loan or the margin money to self-finance.
How do I apply for NLM?
Through the Department's own portal, www.nlm.udyamimitra.in — the State Implementing Agency and the Department's Project Management Agency handhold applicants through proposal preparation and submission.
Does NLM include livestock insurance?
Yes — Livestock Insurance is one of NLM's dedicated sub-missions, promoting risk-management measures for farmers alongside the entrepreneurship and breed-improvement components, rather than being run as a separate standalone scheme.
For how long must I run the unit after the subsidy is released?
A minimum of three years after project completion — this is one of the core eligibility conditions checked before a proposal is approved, and recovery procedures apply if the unit is discontinued earlier.
Still have questions?
The FAQs above cover the common ones. For anything about your specific application, the ministry helpline undefined is the authoritative answer — and we are happy to point you in the right direction.