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Home / UPSC Editorials / 21st Livestock Census in India

21st Livestock Census in India: Total Livestock Population in India

Last Updated on May 31, 2025
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In a country where more than half the population survives on agriculture and allied sectors, the significance of integral data on livestock cannot be belittled. Livestock plays a vital role in rural employment and the economy at large; hence, efforts to collect data in a systematic way, such as the National Livestock Census, are inevitable. The 21st National Livestock Census was recently launched by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh in New Delhi.

Download the UPSC Practice Questions on Livestock Census for Prelims & Mains!

Analysis based on 

Editorial What is the livestock census and why is it conducted? published in The Indian Express on October 27th, 2024

Topics for UPSC Prelims

Livestock Census, National Livestock Mission (NLM), Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (DEDS), Livestock Insurance Scheme

Topics for UPSC Mains

Role of Livestock in India's Rural Economy, Government Initiatives and Programs Related to Livestock

What is the National Livestock Census?

National Livestock Census is the quinquennial exercise for the enumeration of the domesticated animal population of India that comprises poultry and stray animals. The first livestock census in India was conducted in 1919 and thereafter became an important part of the agricultural statistics system of the country providing detailed data on species, breed, age, sex, and ownership status of animals. Such information is very crucial for policy formulation, economic planning, and the sustainable development of the livestock sector.

Objectives of the Livestock Census

The livestock census is conducted with multi-objective intention, i.e., -

  • Policy Formulation: It aims at forming effective policies appropriate for the livestock sector by using real-time information.
  • Economic Planning: It aids to assess GVA for the livestock sector that eventually promotes resource allocation and economic planning.
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): The data supports tracking progress toward specific SDGs, such as Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Target 2.5, which is about maintaining the genetic diversity of domestic animals.
  • Rural Employment: In rural areas, where a large proportion of the population depends on livestock for livelihood, census data helps in designing better employment schemes and welfare programs.

Read the article on the Dairy Sahakar Scheme!

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About the 21st Livestock Census 2024

The 21st Livestock Census is a comprehensive exercise to be conducted from October 2024 to February 2025, and it will be carried out by almost 87,000 enumerators who are expected to visit nearly 30 crore households all over India. The entire exercise will include all independent houses, apartments, enterprises, and institutions such as gaushalas, dairy farms, poultry farms, veterinary colleges, and defense establishments.

The enumeration work for the 21st Livestock Census is likely still in progress or recently completed, with the process being fully digitized using a mobile application for data collection. The final report and results are anticipated to be released later in 2025, possibly by July 2025.

Scope of the 21st Livestock Census 2024

Coverage under the comprehensive census is as follows:

  • Species and Breeds: Collection of data on 16 animal species, including cattle, buffalo, mithun, yak, sheep, goat, pig, camel, horse, ponies, mule, donkey, dog, rabbit, and elephant.
  • Poultry Birds: Collection of data on poultry birds such as fowl, chicken, duck, turkey, geese, quail, ostrich, and emu.
  • Breed Identification: Collection of data on 219 indigenous breeds recognized by the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
  • Socio-Economic Data: For the first time in the census, data related to the socio-economic status of the pastoralists and their contribution to the livestock sector will be collected.

Read the article on Animal Rearing!

Key Features of the 21st Livestock Census in India

The 21st Livestock Census has some new features with which it is equipped so that data collection can be all-pervasive and precise.

  • The whole process will be digitized. Data will be collected using a mobile application. A digital dashboard will monitor each data collection and progress.
  • Calculating the latitude and longitude of data collection to ensure geospatial accuracy.
  • Collecting granular data about households whose primary source of income emerges from livestock and information about gender regarding stray cattle.
  • Collection for the first time that includes pastoral animals and pastoralists to know their needs and to understand better to cater to such needs.

Which Animals will be Counted in the 21st Census?

The following 16 animal species will be covered in the census:

  • Cattle and Buffaloes: These are the major constituents of India's dairy and agricultural sectors.
  • Goats and Sheep: Important for meat and wool industries.
  • Pigs: Important for meat production in different regions.
  • Camels, Horses, Ponies, Mules, and Donkeys: Important for transportation and labor in rural and remote areas.
  • Dogs, Rabbits, and Elephants: Serving varied roles from pets to working animals.

The census will also cover poultry birds like fowl, chicken, ducks, turkeys, geese, quails, ostriches, and emus.

Read the article on the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund!

How Will the 21st Livestock Census be Different from Previous Exercises?

The 21st Livestock Census will be unique from others in the past in terms of:

  • Complete Digitization: It enhances efficiency and accuracy in collecting and analyzing data through digital means.
  • Inclusion of Pastoral Data: In this census, data is collected on pastoralists and their socio-economic contributions.
  • Detailed Socio-Economic Information: More detailed information on the number of livestock-dependent households and stray animals.
  • Geospatial Precision: Using geospatial technology for data collection and reporting.

Read the article on the Wildlife Protection Act 1972!

Key Findings of the 20th Livestock Census 2019

The 20th Livestock Census, conducted in 2019, provided critical information on India's livestock population:

  • Total Livestock Population: 535.78 million.
  • Cattle: 192.9 million, the highest in the livestock population.
  • Goats: 148.88 million.
  • Buffaloes: 109.85 million.
  • Sheep: 74.26 million.
  • Pigs: 9.06 million.

These are a testament to the size and complexity of the livestock sector, which requires ongoing and all-inclusive data collection.

Read the article on the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)!

Significance of Conducting a Livestock Census in India

The National Livestock Census is very important for the following reasons:

  • Policy Formulation: It ensures that policies are well-informed by having the availability of accurate and current data regarding the livestock sector.
  • Economic Contribution: It is important for estimating the GVA of the sector and informing economic planning and resource allocation.
  • Sustainable Development: Enable monitoring and realization of the SDGs regarding food security, nutrition, and genetic diversity.
  • Employment and Livelihood: Aims at policy-making towards employment as well as formulating the social security system which cannot be avoided to the agricultural sector-dependent populations.

Read the article on the Human Wildlife Conflict!

Government Initiatives Related to the Indian Livestock Sector

Government of India has introduced many schemes and programs in order to drive the development of the livestock sector:

  • National Livestock Mission: Ensures that the production systems of the livestock are improved both qualitatively and quantitatively and develops the capacity of all the stakeholders
  • Rashtriya Gokul Mission: Focusses on conservation as well as improvement of the indigenous bovine breeds.
  • Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme: Provides financial support along with developing entrepreneurs to enhance the operational activities of dairy farming.
  • Livestock Insurance Scheme: Protects the interest of the farmer by providing him with an insurance cover to valuable livestock from untimely death.

These efforts demonstrate the commitment of the government towards strengthening the growth and sustainability of the livestock sector.

Read the article on the Dairy Sector in India!

Conclusion

The 21st National Livestock Census is a landmark project in India's agricultural scenery, promising to deliver comprehensive, accurate data critical for making policies and economic planning. This census incorporates advanced technologies focusing on new data points to deliver deeper insights into the livestock sector in order to drive its sustainable development and improve the livelihoods of millions of rural households. As soon as the process of enumeration begins, its findings are bound to contribute much to shaping the future of livestock management and agricultural policies in India.

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UPSC Practice Questions

Q1. "The livestock sector plays a crucial role in the rural economy of India. Discuss the objectives and significance of the National Livestock Census in shaping policies and fostering sustainable development in the sector." (250 words)

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