ABC Rules

Context: Kerala has demanded changes to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules as increasing stray dog attacks and rabies cases spark public health concerns.

About ABC Rules:

• What are ABC Rules?

• The Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, regulate stray dog population control through sterilisation and immunisation, not culling. ABC Rules mandate local bodies to establish dog sterilisation centres, maintain proper facilities, and carry out humane capture, neutering, vaccination, and release of dogs.

• The Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, regulate stray dog population control through sterilisation and immunisation, not culling.

• ABC Rules mandate local bodies to establish dog sterilisation centres, maintain proper facilities, and carry out humane capture, neutering, vaccination, and release of dogs.

• How It Works?

• Capture: Stray dogs are humanely captured by trained personnel. Sterilisation & Vaccination: Dogs undergo spaying/neutering and anti-rabies vaccination. Release: After recovery, dogs are released in the same locality as per Supreme Court guidelines.

• Capture: Stray dogs are humanely captured by trained personnel.

• Sterilisation & Vaccination: Dogs undergo spaying/neutering and anti-rabies vaccination.

• Release: After recovery, dogs are released in the same locality as per Supreme Court guidelines.

• Significance:

• Prevents overpopulation of strays without violating animal rights. Ensures public health protection by reducing rabies incidence. Encourages scientific and ethical animal management instead of culling.

• Prevents overpopulation of strays without violating animal rights.

• Ensures public health protection by reducing rabies incidence.

• Encourages scientific and ethical animal management instead of culling.

Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus

• GS Paper 2 – Governance & Policy

• Health Governance: Rabies control, intergovernmental coordination on zoonotic diseases. Policy & Implementation: Local bodies’ role under 73rd/74th Amendment, Centre-State dynamics on public health and animal welfare.

• Health Governance: Rabies control, intergovernmental coordination on zoonotic diseases.

• Policy & Implementation: Local bodies’ role under 73rd/74th Amendment, Centre-State dynamics on public health and animal welfare.

• GS Paper 3 – Environment & Ethics

• Biodiversity and Animal Welfare: Humane management of urban wildlife. Ethics (GS Paper 4): Balance between human safety and animal rights.

• Biodiversity and Animal Welfare: Humane management of urban wildlife.

• Ethics (GS Paper 4): Balance between human safety and animal rights.

• Essay/Case Studies

• Use as a case study for governance failure, ethical dilemma (animal rights vs. human safety), and decentralized health interventions.

• Use as a case study for governance failure, ethical dilemma (animal rights vs. human safety), and decentralized health interventions.