The slaughtering of cattle in India has mostly been prohibited because of social and religious customs. The major reason that makes slaughtering unacceptable is because cow is worshipped almost throughout India as it holds a stature of traditional value being one of the most respected creature by god.India mostly exports the beef which is called the water buffalo that is not considered to be holy in the Hindu culture therefore making it a legal commodity to be exported internationally.
States like Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, West Bengal, Sikkim and Tripura are exempted from the law that prohibits slaughtering of cattle. The pattern in which beef is consumed in India differs from state to state. Muslim community is the largest beef consuming community throughout India because of which the Jammu and Kashmir becomes one of the major beef consuming state in India. About 80% of the population in Meghalaya consumes beef meat. Big states like Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Meghalaya also fall under major beef consuming state in India.
The National Sample Survey Organization released a data to present the actual consumption of beef in India. The total consumption by the reporting Indian household accounts to approximately 36,800 tons per month which roughly makes a sum of 441,000 tons per year.