Prof. (Dr.) P.K. Shukla and Dr. Amitav Bhattacharyya
Department of Poultry Science,
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mathura- 281001 (U.P.)
The vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) encompasses inclusive economic growth, social equity, environmental sustainability, and human well-being. Within this framework, the veterinary profession occupies a strategic and multidimensional role that extends far beyond animal treatment. Veterinarians contribute directly to food and nutritional security, public health, rural livelihoods, biosecurity, climate resilience, One Health implementation, and the overall sustainability of agriculture and allied sectors. This article comprehensively examines the evolving role of veterinarians in achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat, highlighting their contributions to livestock development, poultry and dairy industries, disease control, zoonoses prevention, environmental protection, innovation, policy support, and capacity building.
Introduction: Viksit Bharat and the Veterinary Profession
India’s aspiration of becoming a developed nation by 2047 under the vision of Viksit Bharat requires a strong, resilient, and inclusive agricultural and allied sector. Livestock and poultry contribute significantly to agricultural GDP, rural employment, export earnings, and nutritional security. Veterinarians serve as the backbone of this sector by ensuring animal health, productivity, welfare, and biosecurity. In a country where a large proportion of livestock owners are small and marginal farmers, the veterinarian acts not only as a clinician but also as an extension educator, policy enabler, entrepreneur, and guardian of public health.
India’s livestock and allied sectors form a critical pillar of Viksit Bharat by delivering economic growth, employment, and food security. The livestock sector contributed approximately 5.73 % to India’s total Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2021–22 and has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 13 % from 2014–15 to 2021–22.
Population data from the 20th Livestock Census show that India hosts a vast animal resource base, including:
- ~303 million bovines (cattle, buffalo, yak)
- ~148 million goats
- ~74 million sheep
- ~851 million poultry birds
representing one of the largest aggregated livestock populations worldwide.
These figures highlight the magnitude of the animal population veterinarians must serve, spanning both commercial and smallholder production systems.
Contribution to Food and Nutritional Security
Veterinarians play a critical role in enhancing the availability, accessibility, and safety of animal-source foods such as milk, eggs, meat, and fish. India is the world’s largest milk producer and among the top producers of eggs and poultry meat. These achievements are closely linked with veterinary interventions in breeding, disease control, nutrition management, and farm advisory services.
Animal-source foods are rich in high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins (A, B12, D), and minerals (iron, zinc, calcium). By improving livestock productivity and reducing disease losses, veterinarians directly support national nutrition programs, including maternal and child nutrition initiatives. In the context of malnutrition and protein deficiency, especially among women and children, veterinary support to poultry and dairy sectors becomes a public health imperative.
Veterinarians support sectors that are essential to Viksit Bharat through improved health and productivity of livestock and poultry.
Milk Production:
- India retains its position as the world’s largest milk producer, with nearly 248 million tonnes in 2024–25.
- Per capita availability of milk in India reached about 485 g per day in 2024–25, showing a sustained upward trajectory in national supply.
Egg Production:
- India ranks second globally in total egg production, estimated at 149.11 billion eggs in 2024–25.
- Per capita availability increased from 62 eggs per year in 2014–15 to 106 eggs per year in 2024–25.
Meat Production:
- Total meat production in India was about 10.50 million tonnes in 2024–25, and poultry meat accounted for approximately 5.18 million tonnes (≈50 %).
These production figures underscore why strengthening animal health through veterinary science is crucial for national food and nutrition goals.
Strengthening Rural Livelihoods and Farmer Income
Livestock is often referred to as the “living bank” of rural households. Veterinarians enhance this asset by reducing mortality, improving reproductive efficiency, and increasing productivity. Their role in artificial insemination, breed improvement, herd health planning, and preventive medicine significantly raises farmer income.
Veterinarians also support entrepreneurship in dairying, poultry, goatery, piggery, and integrated farming systems. Through scientific advisory services, they help farmers adopt cost-effective technologies, manage risks, and improve market linkages. In the vision of doubling farmers’ income and inclusive growth under Viksit Bharat, veterinarians act as key change agents in rural transformation.
The livestock-based economy sustains millions of smallholder households in India. The dairy sector alone contributes ~5 % of the national economy (GVA) and employs over 80 million farmers directly in rural areas.
Growth in allied livestock production—milk, eggs, meat—has a multiplier effect on rural incomes and local markets, directly linking veterinary interventions (health, nutrition, reproduction) to improved livelihoods.
Disease Prevention, Biosecurity, and National Animal Health
One of the most critical roles of veterinarians lies in the prevention and control of animal diseases. Endemic diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Classical Swine Fever, and avian diseases cause enormous economic losses annually.
Veterinarians are central to the planning and execution of national disease control programs such as the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP). Their responsibilities include vaccination, surveillance, outbreak investigation, quarantine, and reporting. Effective veterinary services strengthen national biosecurity, protect livestock wealth, and enhance India’s credibility in international trade of animal products.
National animal health programs such as the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) rely on veterinarians to implement large-scale vaccination, surveillance, and reporting systems. The significance of such programs gains context from disease incidence patterns: for example, outbreaks of Ranikhet disease (Newcastle), PPR, and Haemorrhagic Septicaemia often underscore the need for proactive veterinary leadership.
Addressing these challenges at scale is essential for trade compliance, export competitiveness, and national food security.
Public Health and the One Health Approach
The concept of One Health recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Veterinarians are indispensable partners in this framework, particularly in the prevention of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, brucellosis, tuberculosis, leptospirosis, avian influenza, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Through meat inspection, milk hygiene, residue monitoring, and disease surveillance, veterinarians safeguard food safety and public health. Their involvement in AMR stewardship—promoting judicious use of antimicrobials, vaccination, and biosecurity—aligns with India’s National Action Plan on AMR and global health security goals.
Veterinarians play a key role in food safety and zoonotic disease prevention. With over 850 million poultry birds and a vast dairy herd, ensuring milk and meat safety has direct implications for public health. Veterinarians conduct meat inspection, milk hygiene surveillance, and antimicrobial residue monitoring to prevent foodborne illnesses and protect communities.
Role in Poultry and Livestock Industrial Growth
India’s poultry sector is among the fastest-growing segments of agriculture. Veterinarians contribute to this growth by ensuring flock health, biosecurity, vaccination programs, feed efficiency, and welfare standards. In commercial and backyard poultry systems, veterinary guidance is essential for productivity, disease prevention, and sustainable expansion.
Similarly, in dairy and meat industries, veterinarians support quality assurance, animal welfare, traceability, and value addition. Their role is crucial in meeting domestic demand as well as international standards for export of animal products, thereby contributing to economic growth under Viksit Bharat.
Environmental Sustainability and Climate Resilience
Livestock systems are both affected by and contributors to climate change. Veterinarians play an important role in promoting climate-smart livestock practices, including improved feeding strategies, disease-resilient breeds, efficient manure management, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
By advocating balanced nutrition, herd health planning, and waste recycling, veterinarians help reduce the environmental footprint of animal agriculture. Their advisory role supports sustainable intensification, ensuring that productivity gains are achieved without compromising environmental integrity.
As India promotes sustainable development under Viksit Bharat, veterinarians support practices that reduce livestock emissions and improve feed and waste management. For example, balanced nutrition and herd health planning reduce methane output per unit of production, aligning livestock systems with environmental goals.
Animal Welfare, Ethics, and Social Responsibility
Animal welfare is increasingly recognized as an integral component of sustainable development. Veterinarians are ethically and professionally obligated to ensure humane treatment of animals in farming, transport, and slaughter.
By promoting welfare-friendly housing, handling, and health care practices, veterinarians enhance productivity while addressing societal concerns regarding ethical livestock production. Their role in disaster management, rescue operations, and control of stray animal populations further reflects their social responsibility within the Viksit Bharat framework.
Research, Innovation, and Capacity Building
Veterinarians contribute significantly to research and innovation in animal health, biotechnology, vaccines, diagnostics, and production systems. Their involvement in academic institutions, research organizations, and industry drives technological advancement and evidence-based policymaking.
Capacity building through training of farmers, para-veterinary staff, and youth is another crucial dimension. By disseminating scientific knowledge and best practices, veterinarians strengthen human capital in the livestock sector, which is essential for long-term national development.
India’s animal science and veterinary research institutions contribute significantly to vaccines, diagnostics, and livestock management technologies. Veterinarians serve as educators and trainers, disseminating best practices to farmers and para-veterinary workers.
Policy Support and Governance
Veterinarians provide technical expertise in policy formulation, program implementation, and evaluation related to animal husbandry, dairy development, food safety, and public health. Their inputs ensure that policies are scientifically sound, practical, and aligned with ground realities.
Effective veterinary governance enhances service delivery, disease control, and regulatory compliance. In the journey toward Viksit Bharat, veterinarians act as vital advisors bridging science, policy, and society.
Future Outlook: Veterinarians as Nation Builders
The role of veterinarians in Viksit Bharat is expanding from traditional animal treatment to comprehensive sectoral leadership. Digital technologies, precision livestock farming, epidemiological modelling, and integrated health approaches are redefining veterinary practice.
India’s livestock and poultry sectors are central to the Viksit Bharat vision—fuelling food security, rural prosperity, and economic resilience. With robust growth in milk, egg, and meat production, veterinarians are critical drivers in maintaining animal health, improving productivity, and protecting public health. Strengthening veterinary infrastructure, services, and education is indispensable to achieving India’s 2047 development goals
Empowering veterinarians through infrastructure, training, and policy support will amplify their contribution to national goals. As custodians of animal health, food safety, and public health, veterinarians are indispensable nation builders in India’s journey toward sustainable and inclusive development. Veterinarians occupy a strategic position at the intersection of agriculture, health, environment, and economy. Their contributions to food and nutritional security, rural livelihoods, disease control, public health, sustainability, and innovation make them central to the realization of Viksit Bharat. Strengthening veterinary education, services, and leadership will not only enhance livestock sector performance but also accelerate India’s progress toward a resilient, prosperous, and developed nation.