Tilapia production in India is booming in recent years. Pond, tank and cage culture of the introduced improved strains of tilapia is being supported to compete the domestic as well as international market. The culture production is being intensified using modern tools such as cages and biofloc technology. At the same time several issues covering unregulated culture and breeding practices, unethical culture technology, and callous approach towards disease management are emerging now a days requiring immediate attention to make tialpia intensive production sustainable. Looking at the promises and prospects of intensive tilapia culture, proposals for future improvement in tilapia farming are suggested. There is need of responsible production and organised distribution of improved stocks, better formulated floating feeds, deployment of advanced aquaculture production systems, monosex culture and continued quarantine and tighter biosecurity standards.