Despite the rapid strides made in recent years in terms of development, India has a long way to go to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper attempts to analyze the role and potential of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to meet the subsistence and income needs of forest inhabitants. Based on available literature, field and policy level experience, it shows how the NTFP sector has not received due importance in the country. The paper depicts the unique potential of NTFPs to assist in achieving all the 8 MDGs for the 178 million forest inhabitants in particular and the remaining population in general. It also provides a strategy for achieving the MDGs in India through NTFPs.