The issue of stray dogs falls under the purview of State Governments, with Local Bodies mandated to manage related matters. To ensure humane and effective dog population management, the Central Government has framed the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. These Rules align with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) standards for the Capture–Neuter–Vaccinate–Release (CNVR) approach. Under the Rules, Local Bodies are responsible for implementing sterilization and vaccination programmes in collaboration with animal welfare organizations.
The sterilization programme is an ongoing process being implemented by Urban Local Bodies. An advisory was issued by the Secretary (Animal Husbandry and Dairying) to all Chief Secretaries on 11.11.2024. Subsequently, on 16.07.2025, the Secretaries of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and Ministry of Panchayati Raj jointly issued an advisory reiterating that sterilisation of stray dogs is central to dog population management. The advisory urged Urban Local Bodies to establish Animal Birth Control units and undertake large-scale sterilisation programmes, covering at least 70% of stray dogs.
Further, the Central Government has revised the existing Scheme for Birth Control and Immunization of stray dogs and stray cats, which is being implemented through the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) from the current financial year. The details are available in the website of AWBI at https://awbi.gov.in/Document/guidelines. Under the revised scheme:
- Financial assistance of up to ₹800 per dog and ₹600 per cat is provisioned for SPCAs and Local Bodies to conduct ABC programmes as per the ABC Rules, 2023.
- Infrastructure support: A one-time grant of ₹2 crore is provisioned for State-run veterinary hospitals to develop facilities such as surgical theatres, kennels, and recovery units.
- The AWBI is providing assistance for establishment of small animal shelter up to ₹15 lakh and ₹27 lakh for large animal to Urban Local Bodies, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animal and recognized Animal Welfare Organizations.
Further, for proper implementation of the Rules, the AWBI has issued several advisories and circulars which is placed at Annexure-I
In addition, under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), the subcomponent Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD) provides States with support for the procurement of anti-rabies vaccines.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP), is implementing the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE), launched on 28.09.2021, with multiple initiatives aimed at achieving rabies elimination.
Annexure-I
List of Advisories issued in regard to implementation of Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023
| S. No. | Date | Topic | Issued from | Addressed to: |
| 1 | 05.04.2022 | Minimum revised Rates for conducting ABC | Secretary, AWBI | The Chief Secretary of all States/UTsThe State Animal Welfare Board of all States/UTsThe District Magistrate of all States/UTsThe Municipal Commissioner of all States/UTs |
| 2 | 17.05.2022 | Standard Protocol for Adoption of community animals | Chairman, AWBI | The Chief Secretary of all States/UTsThe Director General of Police of all States/UTsThe State Animal Welfare Board of all States/UTsThe District Magistrate of all States/UTsThe Municipal Commissioner of all States/UTs |
| 3 | 27.03.2023 | Circulation of ABC Rules | Secretary, DAHD | The Chief Secretary of all States/UTs |
| 4 | 31.03.2023 | D.O. letter regarding Central Govt. has notified the ABC Rules, 2023 | Joint Secretary, DAHD | The Principal Secretary, DAH of all State Govt. / UTsThe Principal Secretary, Department of Urban Development of all State Governments/ UTsThe Municipal Commissioner of all Districts of all State Governments/UTs |
| 5 | 30.05.2023 | Implementation of ABC Rules 2023 | Secretary, AWBI | The District Magistrate/District Collector of all Districts of all State Governments/UTs |
| 6 | 01.10.2024 | Advise to all recognised AWOs for Active Participation in the tenders floated for ABC | Secretary, AWBI | All the recognised Animal Welfare Organization(s) |
| 7 | 11.11.2024 | DAHD Advisory for Dog Population Management and reducing Dog-bites | Secretary, DAHD | The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/UTs. |
| 8 | 17.07.2025 | Guidelines for RWAs, AOAs, Local bodies for effective implementation of ABC Rules | Chairman, AWBI | The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/UTs.All the Resident Welfare Associations and Apartment owner Association |
| 9 | 17.07.2025 | Constitution of committees as per Rule 9(3) of ABC Rules 2023 | Chairman, AWBI | The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/ UTs. |
| 10 | 04.08.2025 | Advisory of separate Dog bite Data | Chairman, AWBI | The Director General of Health Services |
| 11 | 04.08.2025 | Advisory for Mandatory Project Recognition | Chairman, AWBI | The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/ UTs. |
| 12 | 11.08.2025 | Revised Animal Birth Control (ABC) module for Street Dogs Population management, rabies eradication and reducing man-dog conflict launched on 11.08.2025 | Chairman, AWBI | The Chief Secretary of all the State Governments/ UTs. |
This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on 19th August, 2025.
