Livestock plays an important role in the Indian economy. About 20.5 million people depend upon livestock for their livelihood. Livestock contributed 16% to the income of small farm households as against an average of 14% for all rural households. Livestock provides a livelihood to two-third of the rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8 % of the population in India. India has vast livestock resources. The livestock sector contributes 4.11% GDP and 25.6% of total Agriculture GDP. Poultry farming is the form of animal husbandry which raises domesticated birds such as chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese to produce meat or eggs for food. Poultry mostly chickens are farmed in great numbers. Chickens raised for eggs are known as layers, while chickens raised for meat are called broilers. Change in the poultry population Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states are first, second and third in poultry population whereas Assam (71.63%) and West Bengal (46.34%) have maximum growth in poultry population during the year 2012 to 2019. Category Population (In Million) 2012 Population (In Million) 2019 % Change Total poultry 729.21 851.81 (+)16.81 Backyard poultry 217.49 317.07 (+)45.48 Commercial poultry 511.72 534.74 (+)4.50  Source- 20th Livestock Census (2019), Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India.