Scientific Utilisation through Research Augmentation-Prime Products from Indigenous Cows (SUTRA PIC)

Context: Over 100 scientists across the country signed an open appeal, urging the Union Ministry of Science and Technology to withdraw its programme on research on indigenous cows

• The programme on research on indigenous cows is called SUTRA PIC or Scientific Utilisation Through Research Augmentation-Prime Products from Indigenous Cows.
•  Led by the Department of Science and Technology, it will be funded by several ministries.
• For the programme, the department has called for research and development proposals in five areas: 
  1. The uniqueness of Indigenous Cows 
  2. Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Medicine and Health 
  3. Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Agricultural Applications 
  4. Prime-products from Indigenous Cows for Food and Nutrition 
  5. Prime-products from indigenous cows-based utility items 
• It follows five thematic areas: 
  1. Scientific research on uniqueness of Indigenous Cows. 
  2. Scientific research on Prime-products from indigenous cows for medicine and health. 
  3. Scientific research on Prime-products from indigenous cows for agricultural applications.
  4. Scientific research on Prime-products from indigenous cows for food and nutrition.
  5. Scientific research on Prime-products from indigenous cows-based utility items.