Stray Dogs : preservation, protection, and improvement of livestock Article 246 (3)

New Delhi. As per Article 246(3) of the Constitution of India, the preservation, protection, and improvement of livestock, as well as the prevention of animal diseases, veterinary training, and practice, fall under the jurisdiction of State Governments. As per Articles 243(W) and 246, local bodies are mandated to control the stray dog population. Accordingly, local bodies are implementing the Animal Birth Control Programme to regulate the population of stray dogs.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is responsible for the human health component related to dog bites and human rabies. Under the National Rabies Control Program, data on animal bites, including high-risk groups such as children, is being collected, and necessary provisions for post-exposure prophylaxis are being made for all animal bite victims across the country through healthcare facilities. As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, state-wise data on dog bite cases and suspected human rabies deaths reported by states and Union Territories from 2022 to 2025 (till January), as per the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme–Integrated Health Information Platform portal, are provided in Annexure-I and Annexure-II, respectively.
The Central Government has notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 in supersession of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 to strengthen the implementation of the animal birth control programme. Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 provides for sterilization and vaccination of stray dogs to control the stray dog population, to prevent rabies and to reduce man-dog conflict.
The intensive implementation of the Animal Birth Control program by local bodies is the only rational and scientific solution to the overpopulation of the street dogs and controlling incidence of Rabies. Dogs are sterilized and released back to their original habitats, and since dogs are territorial, they stay in their locality and do not allow dogs from other neighboring areas to come in. These dogs are also vaccinated annually so they are protected from rabies and even if they bite accidentally, they may not transmit Rabies.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has published the revised Animal Birth Control (ABC) module for Street Dogs Population management, rabies eradication and reducing man-dog conflict.
Further, Animal Welfare Board of India provides the Animal Birth Control Project Recognition to the recognized Animal Welfare Organizations to carry out the Sterilization and immunization programme of stray dogs across the country. In addition, the Animal Welfare Board of India has issued following advisories / guidelines for proper welfare of the stray dogs as below:
• Pet Dogs and Street Dogs Circular dated 26.02.2015
• Standard protocol for the adoption of community animals dated 17.05.2022
• Request to Chief Secretary of all State/UTs to implement the provision of Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 dated 27.03.2023
• Request to Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Animal Husbandry as well as to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of all Districts of all State/UTs to implement the provision of Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 dated 31.03.2023
• Request to al District Magistrate of all Districts of all State/UTs to implement the provision of Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 dated 30.05.2023
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is implementing all necessary activities for rabies elimination in India by 2030 through the National Rabies Control Program (NRCP) in coordination with key stakeholder ministries and departments. Each stakeholder ministry/department has a defined role and set of responsibilities for rabies elimination under the National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination by 2030 (NAPRE), as part of the National Rabies Control Program.
The activities undertaken by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) for rabies elimination across the country are mentioned below at Annexure-III
The Government has not conducted a formal assessment of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Program’s effectiveness in controlling the stray dog population; however, it remains the primary mechanism for managing the issue. The program’s effectiveness is supported by several mandatory provisions, including Animal Birth Control Project Recognition for each project, the constitution of Monitoring and Implementation Committees at the Central, State, and Local levels, and other regulatory measures. However, its effectiveness varies across different regions due to implementation challenges.
Further, as per the information received, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has assessed the effectiveness of the Animal Birth Control Program in controlling the stray dog population. A study conducted in 2019 and 2023 revealed a 10% reduction in the street dog population in 2023 compared to the previous survey. At the same time, the neutering percentage increased by 20%.