The Central Government has strengthened its Animal Birth Control programme with new funding and guidelines, even as the Supreme Court underscored the need for balanced enforcement in Delhi-NCR.
The Central Government has reiterated that India’s approach to managing stray dogs will remain humane, scientific, and rooted in compassion. Addressing the Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, said that while the issue largely falls within the jurisdiction of State Governments and local bodies, the Centre continues to guide and support them through policy, funding, and technical assistance.
At the heart of this policy is the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The Rules, designed in line with global standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health, promote the Capture–Neuter–Vaccinate–Release (CNVR) method for controlling stray populations. This approach, officials say, ensures public safety while upholding animal welfare principles.
Under the new framework, urban local bodies across India are required to collaborate with animal welfare organisations to carry out sterilisation and vaccination drives. To make these operations more effective, the Centre has issued multiple advisories urging States and Union Territories to establish dedicated Animal Birth Control units. The goal, according to a joint advisory issued on July 16, 2025, by the Secretaries of Animal Husbandry, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Panchayati Raj, is to sterilise at least 70 percent of stray dogs to stabilise and eventually reduce their population.
Strengthened Support and Funding
In a major boost to these efforts, the Central Government has revised its national scheme for Birth Control and Immunisation of stray dogs and cats, implemented through the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). From the current financial year, the scheme provides:
- Financial assistance of ₹800 per dog and ₹600 per cat for sterilisation.
- ₹2 crore one-time grants for State-run veterinary hospitals to establish surgical theatres, kennels, and recovery units.
- Grants of ₹15 lakh for small shelters and ₹27 lakh for large shelters to help urban local bodies and recognised NGOs expand infrastructure for animal care.
The AWBI has also released a series of guidelines and circulars for better implementation. These include standard operating procedures for adoption of community animals, specific rules for Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and Apartment Owner Associations, and instructions to maintain separate dog-bite data.
On August 11, 2025, the Board launched an updated Animal Birth Control (ABC) module aimed at integrating population management, rabies prevention, and man-dog conflict reduction into a single national strategy.
Parallel to these measures, the government continues to support States through the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, which helps procure anti-rabies vaccines. The National Rabies Control Programme and the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination, introduced in 2021, further aim to make India rabies-free in the coming years.
Supreme Court’s Clarification on Delhi-NCR Stray Dog Order
Even as the Centre refines its policies, the Supreme Court has clarified the scope and intention of its recent directive concerning stray dogs in Delhi-NCR.
A bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan stated that its order—issued on August 11—was not a reactionary move but the result of long deliberation over persistent administrative failure spanning two decades. The Court directed that localities in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad be made free of stray dogs, while clarifying that no captured animal should be released back on the streets.
The judges emphasized that the order was not meant to disregard animal welfare, but to restore balance between compassion and public safety. “The judiciary’s role,” they observed, “is not to echo popular sentiment but to uphold justice, conscience, and equity.”
This clarification followed concerns that the order might conflict with the government’s humane population control approach. The Court, however, made it clear that its intent was to ensure accountability and effective implementation of existing policies—not to promote cruelty or disregard established animal welfare norms.
A Balancing Act Between Humanity and Safety
Together, the Centre’s renewed commitment and the Supreme Court’s guidance represent a dual approach—one that upholds animal rights while safeguarding public health and safety. Experts believe that if properly implemented, the ABC Rules, 2023, could serve as a long-term solution to a problem that has challenged India’s cities for decades.
By combining financial incentives, scientific strategies, and judicial oversight, the government aims to move toward a future where humane treatment of animals coexists with safer, cleaner communities. As Minister Baghel noted, this effort underscores the government’s resolve to create “a sustainable and compassionate model of stray dog management that protects both people and animals.”
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