During vertebrate embryogenesis, skeletal muscle is derived from somites, which is formed by segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm lateral to neural tube. The understanding of the regulation of embryonic and postnatal skeletal muscle growth and development is extremely important in this regard. With increasing demand, more studies are required on growth and differentiation of skeletal muscle to improve the growth rate of this fish. Rohu Labeo rohita (Hamilton 1822) is one of the most important economic carps in India and other South East Asian countries. The present investigation suggests that the four transcription factors play pivotal role in the regulation of muscle growth of Labeo rohita in an overlapping and interconnected way. In phylogenetic study, Labeo MyoD, MEF2A and myf-5 were found to be closely related to those of common carp. Partial sequencing of MyoD, myf-5, and MEF2A was done to draw phylogeny. Expression of MyoD was lower than that of Myf-5 after the 5th month. Myogenin and MEF2A were expressed after MyoD and myf-5 and remained active up to adult stage. MyoD and myf-5 mRNAs were expressed at high level at the early embryonic stages. In this study, the expression pattern of MyoD, myf-5, myogenin, and MEF2A was observed from 6 h after fertilization to 12 months of age using semiquantitative RT-PCR as well as real-time PCR method. The majority of skeletal muscle genes require both MRFs and MEF2 family members to activate their transcription. Myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) along with myocyte specific enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) play the pivotal role in the determination and differentiation of skeletal muscle. Understanding the regulation of skeletal muscle development is important to meet the increasing demand of Indian major carp Labeo rohita.