The domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), originating from the red junglefowl, is essential to global food production, as well as entertainment and cultural traditions. In India, the poultry industry consists of both large-scale commercial operations and small-scale rural farms. Indigenous breeds like Aseel and Kadaknath are valued for their hardiness and cultural significance. As of 2019, India?s poultry population reached 851.81 million, with significant growth in backyard poultry. India ranks as the third-largest global egg producer and fifth in chicken meat production. In 2022-23, total egg production was 138.38 billion, and poultry meat production reached five million metric tons, contributing 51% to the nation?s total meat output. Leading poultry-producing states include West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh. The rapid growth of the sector is primarily driven by commercial farms in southern India. Conservation efforts like The All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Poultry are crucial to protect traditional breeds amidst industrialization which focuses on developing location-specific chicken varieties, conserving and improving native and elite poultry germplasm, and promoting rural entrepreneurship.