NDDB welcomes Union Budget 2026–27

Dr Meenesh Shah , Chairman, NDDB hails the budget as a key milestone for the sector

NDDB has welcomed the Union Budget 2026–27. According to NDDB, the budget will give a decisive push to the Indian dairy and livestock sector, strengthening cooperatives and farmer incomes in line with ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’. Dr Meenesh Shah , Chairman, NDDB hailed it as a milestone for the sector.

Chairman, NDDB welcomed the Budget move allowing inter-cooperative society dividend income as deduction under the new tax regime to the extent it is further distributed to its members, fostering investments in multistate cooperatives under Sahkar se Samriddhi. A three-year exemption on dividend income for notified national cooperative federations on their investments made in companies up to 31.01.2026, if further distributed to its members cooperatives, will further strengthen profitability and enable higher pay-outs to member institutions.

Key highlights include a 16 per cent increase in animal husbandry allocation to Rs 6,153 crore, a Rs 500 crore integrated entrepreneurship development scheme for dairy and poultry value chains, addition of 20,000 veterinary professionals, tax relief for cattle feed supplied by cooperatives, incentives for inter-cooperative investments, and full excise exemption for the Bio-CNG value chain—boosting sustainability, clean energy and rural employment.

In addition to the existing provision allowing full deduction of profits and gains for primary cooperative societies engaged in supplying milk, oilseeds, fruits, or vegetables raised by their members, this benefit has now been extended to cattle feed.