UGC has asked all universities to encourage students to take Kamdhenu Gau Vigyan Prachar-Prasar Examination that will test people’s knowledge of ‘cow science’.

17 February, 2021 11:41 am IST

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New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities across India 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 commission has also asked for wider dissemination of information regarding the exam.

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. Anyone from the general public can also take the hour-long exam that will be held in 12 regional languages, besides English.

In a notice sent to all universities Monday, UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain told the vice-chancellors to give “wide publicity to this initiative”.

“As you are aware Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, established in February 2019, has been working on dissemination of information on economic, scientific, environmental, health, agriculture and spiritual relevance of indigenous cow in the country. Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog is going to conduct an All India On-Line ‘Kamdhenu Gau Vigyan Prachar- Prasar Examination’ on 25th February, 2021 for students of primary, secondary & senior secondary schools/ colleges/ universities and for all citizens,” read the notice, a copy of which was seen by

Jain added: “I write this to request you, to give wide publicity to this initiative and encourage students to enroll/ register themselves for this examination. This may also be brought to the notice of the colleges affiliated to your university.”

All participants of the examination will be given appreciation certificates.

Cow awareness

Announcing the exams in January, RKA chief Vallabhbhai Kathiria had said there is a need for the exam because there is not much awareness regarding scientific qualities of cows.

“Gau mata is revered in India, but not much has been done to educate the masses about its qualities over the past few years,” Kathiria had said.

He had added that 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”.

“Its so-called waste products like cow dung and cow urine, which are cheap and abundantly available, are biodegradable and environment-friendly. Hence, these can be gainfully used by cow entrepreneurs to make cow-rearing sustainable, which in turn can contribute towards economic growth of the country,” Kathiria had said.