By Editor India is one of the largest producers of milk in the world, where milk is not only an important part of the diet, but also a livelihood for millions of farmers, dairy owners, and sellers. Milk has always played a crucial role in the rural economy and worked in favour of reducing malnutrition in the country. India is famous for having the most vegetarian people in a country where milk is a key source of nutrition for millions of people.
Every state contributes to the national milk production to meet the overall demand. However, some states stand out for having the largest dairy farms, cooperative networks, and a huge number of cattle. People in India widely use milk and its by-products in daily life, from drinking it plain to making kheer, paneer, ghee, and so on. Milk is crucial in this country, and every state promotes farming by several methods.
Here, we will look at the top 10 highest milk-producing states in India in 2025, along with production numbers, dominating regions, and so on. Let’s get started:
1. Uttar Pradesh – 34 Million Tonnes
Uttar Pradesh is the leading state with 34 million tonnes of milk in 2025, which is approximately 14.3 percent of the national milk output. The key reason behind the success in being a top name is the large cattle population, especially buffaloes, which are known for producing milk with high fat content. Key districts that dominated in overall production levels are Meerut, Bulandshahr, and Aligarh due to their large dairy farms. Another reason behind this much production is the strong network of local dairy cooperatives, which helps farmers in selling milk easily.
2. Rajasthan – 28 Million Tonnes
Rajasthan is popular for various reasons, and having the highest number of vegetarian people in India is a major one. With such a large population who have limited sources to fulfil nutritional needs, milk is a widely preferred option. Rajasthan also has a very high number of cows and buffaloes. Rural families in districts like Alwar, Jaipur, and Ajmer rear cattle on a large scale. The cooperative movement, led by Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation, has given farmers access to better markets.
3. Madhya Pradesh – 21 Million Tonnes
Madhya Pradesh holds the third position for steadily growing in the dairy sector and producing about 21 million tonnes of milk in 2025. Cattle rearing in this state is mainly supported by grazing lands and fertile soils, which work in favour of meeting the demand for most households. Key regions like Indore, Bhopal, and Gwalior are leading districts with domination in milk production. Additionally, farmers in MP have high numbers of cows, which provide good nutritional milk, and the government is also supporting the farmers in this through dairy development schemes.
4. Gujarat – 20 Million Tonnes
With the strong cooperative model and business ecosystem, Gujarat is an unexpected name that produces about 20 million tonnes of milk in 2025. Factors like heavy reliance on milk for nutrition and the Amul Brand are key reasons for this much production. The success of Amul shows how the collective efforts of farmers can build a global brand. Districts like Anand, Mehsana, and Banaskantha are known for their large-scale milk production. Farmers here rear both cows and buffaloes, and the milk is supplied through thousands of cooperative societies.
5. Andhra Pradesh – 15 Million Tonnes
With the production of 15 million tonnes of milk in 2025, Andhra Pradesh made its mark in the dairy sector. Cattle rearing is possible in this state due to the friendly climate and fertile lands to produce enough feed for cattle. A crossbred cow is widely preferred among farmers as it produces higher milk as compared to local breeds. Also, the Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Cooperative Federation plays a big role in collecting milk from farmers and supplying it to the markets.
6. Punjab – 13 Million Tonnes
Punjab is called the land of prosperity and farmers, where almost every villager has a cow in their home along with dairy farms. Punjab marks the sixth position with 13 million tonnes of milk production in 2025. Farmers use modern techniques for cattle rearing for higher-yielding breeds of buffaloes. Key regions like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Amritsar dominate in the overall milk production in this state, where good infrastructure, veterinary services, and scientific farming support the dairy sector.
7. Haryana – 12 Million Tonnes
Haryana contributes around 12 million tonnes of milk in 2025, making it the 7th top milk-producing state in India. Farmers here rear Murrah buffaloes, which are well known for high-milk yield and rich fat content. Key regions like Hisar, Karnal, and Rohtak lead in dairy farming. Due to this, dairy farming is a primary business source among Haryana farmers.
8. Maharashtra – 11 Million Tonnes
Maharashtra produces around 11 million tonnes of milk, where a mix of small and large dairy farms is spread across various regions. Key districts with higher milk production are Pune, Ahmednagar, and Kolhapur. Farmers here rear both local and crossbred cattle. Milk production is supported by cooperative dairies like Mahananda and private players who collect milk from villages and process it for urban markets.
9. Tamil Nadu – 10 Million Tonnes
Tamil Nadu holds the ninth place with 10 million tonnes of milk production in 2025. To reach this number, Tamil Nadu relies on strong dairy cooperative systems under the brand “Aayin.” Key regions with the highest contribution to milk production are Erode, Coimbatore, and Salem. Farmers here also prefer crossbred cows due to their higher milk yield rates.
10. Bihar – 9 Million Tonnes
Bihar has shown impressive growth in recent years in its overall milk production. In 2025, Bihar produced about 9 million tonnes of milk, which helped mark the tenth position. The state’s rural economy depends heavily on agriculture and livestock, and dairy has become a major source of income for families. Districts like Nalanda, Patna, and Begusarai are leading producers.
Bottom Line
From Uttar Pradesh to Bihar, each state government is supporting the dairy sector through subsidies, better veterinarians, implementing no tax on small dairies, and more. The milk sector in India is booming as the demand never goes down. From Holi to Diwali, there are festivals where milk is widely used for making sweets, and it is expected that the production is going to rise in the future as well.