Birds are covered under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) 1972 making it illegal to catch, keep, kill, buy / sell birds or damage their nests. All indigenous bird species are covered under this Act.

Trade in foreign birds is restricted by CITES(Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species). There is an international protocol to which India is a signatory which assures full protection to all migratory species, making it illegal to trap, capture, keep, kill or trade these birds.

It is illegal to keep any birds in captivity with the only exceptions being lovebirds and blue rock pigeons.

Areas that have natural populations of these birds, may not enclose or attempt to confine them. Pheasants, jungle fowl and partridges ( teetar) are protected under the WPA.

It is illegal to hunt, kill, buy, sell, eat or serve them.

It is illegal to colour birds (as is done by bird sellers to make them look more attractive) as the chemical colour is toxic and possibly carcinogenic.

It is illegal to cut the feathers of birds as this amounts to maiming them which is a cognisable offence under IPC Section 428/429.

Cock fighting is a cognisable offence under PCA. Therefore rearing and training birds to fight is similarly illegal.

It is illegal to keep or train falcons and hawks. Since it is illegal to buy or keep birds, it is illegal to organise bird release ceremonies to mark occasions where the birds have been procured by sale.

It is illegal to show caged birds in ads, movies or serials.