India holding nationwide ‘cow science’ exam
NEW DELHI — India will hold a countrywide online examination on 'cow science' next month in a move aimed at promoting and protecting the animal considered sacred by the country's Hindu majority.
The syllabus released for the exam has however triggered a controversy with media reporting on portions that contain unscientific claims that cow milk has traces of gold and earthquakes occur due to cow slaughter.
The examination on February 25 will be open for children, adults and foreigners and is to be held on an annual basis, according to Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog from the National Cow Commission, set up by the ruling Hindu nationalist government.
The hour-long exam will feature multiple choice questions and will be held in 12 regional languages besides Hindi and English, commission spokesman Pureesh Kumar told dpa.
The exam aims to "raise mass awareness about domestic cows, infuse curiosity among Indians about cows and make them aware of the unexplored potential and business opportunities a cow can offer, even after it stops giving milk."
Certificates and cash prizes will be given to successful candidates.
"People, particularly the young generation, are not aware of the true economic and scientific value and the significance of Mother Cow," Cow Commission chief Vallabhbhai Kathiria said.
After the syllabus drew criticism, the commission removed the questionable material from its website.
"The media reported on some contentious portions including about quakes due to cow slaughter, so we have launched a review. We will post the material as well as recommended books to help examinees prepare for the exam, on the site in the next few days," an official said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, which came to power in 2014, named protection of cows as a priority to shore up Hindu support among its electoral base. It launched programmes to research uses of cow milk, dung and urine, that according to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian medicine, have healing properties.
In November, tens of millions of oil lamps as well as other products made of cow dung were sold during Diwali, India's festival of lights, in a boycott of Chinese-made goods following the country's tensions with its northern neighbour.
In past years, rights groups have blamed Modi and his party for emboldening Hindu vigilante groups to attack members of the Muslim minority for eating beef and slaughtering and trading cattle, laws against which have been tightened across the country.