Tracker · Updated October 2026
Street dog sterilisation in India: how close are cities to the 70% target under the ABC Rules 2023?
Only Bengaluru has a published survey showing more than 70% of its street dogs sterilised, at 71.85% in 2023. Mumbai was at 62.9% in 2024 and Chennai at 27%. States reported 24.53 lakh dogs sterilised in three years to 2024, about 5% of the census count a year.
Key findings
- Bengaluru's 2023 survey found 71.85% of street dogs neutered, up from 51.16% in 2019, alongside a 10% fall in the dog count.
- Mumbai's 2024 survey found 62.9% sterilised, and 18 of its 24 wards had lower coverage than in 2014.
- Chennai's 2024 survey found only 27% of about 1.81 lakh street dogs sterilised.
- States told the Centre they sterilised 24.53 lakh dogs in three years, about 8.2 lakh a year, or 5.3% of the 2019 census count annually.
- Reaching 70% of the 1.53 crore census dogs at AWBI's minimum Rs 1,650 per dog would cost about Rs 1,768 crore, by our calculation.
- AWBI's own grants for dog sterilisation fell from Rs 24.4 lakh in 2018-19 to nil between 2021-22 and 2023-24.
- Delhi's corporation sterilised 79,959 dogs in 2023-24, up from 59,076 the year before, using 20 ABC centres.
- The Supreme Court in May 2026 ordered at least one fully functional ABC centre in every district after finding centres grossly insufficient.
What the ABC Rules 2023 require
Animal Birth Control, or ABC, means catching street dogs, sterilising and vaccinating them, and releasing them where they were caught. The Centre notified the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 on 10 March 2023, replacing the 2001 dog rules.
The local authority is responsible for sterilising and immunising street animals. It may hire an animal welfare organisation, but only one recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for that project.
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Rule 8 | Owners sterilise and vaccinate pets; the local authority does it for street animals |
| Rule 9 | Monitoring committees at central, state and local level; the local committee meets monthly |
| Rule 10 | Local authority provides kennels, vans, CCTV and records at every ABC centre |
| Rule 11(9) | No sterilisation of dogs under six months, or of mothers until the litter is two months old |
| Rule 11(16) | A V-shaped notch on the right ear marks a sterilised, vaccinated dog |
| Rule 11(17) | At least four days of post-operative kennel care |
| Rule 11(19) | Release at the same place or locality where the dog was caught |
| Rule 15 | Euthanasia only for incurably ill or mortally wounded dogs, as diagnosed by a committee team |
| Rule 20 | RWAs and local bodies set feeding spots away from play areas and entrances |
The Supreme Court's orders of 2025 and 2026 sit on top of these Rules. They require removal of dogs from schools, hospitals and transit hubs, which departs from same-place release for those premises only.
Why the target is 70%
Sterilising at least 70% of dogs in an area is the level at which numbers are expected to stop growing. The Department of Animal Husbandry, the Housing ministry and the Panchayati Raj ministry jointly asked urban bodies on 16 July 2025 to cover at least 70% of stray dogs.
The same number appears in the rabies plan. NAPRE says rabies can be eliminated from an area if at least 70% vaccination coverage of dogs is kept up every year. Our dog bite and rabies report covers that goal.
Sources: BBMP 2023 and 2019 reports (via PTI); BMC and HSI/India 2024 survey (via OpenCity); GCC 2024 survey (via DT Next). Target: DAHD-MoHUA-MoPR advisory, 16 July 2025.
Show the numbers
| Label | % |
|---|---|
| Target | 70% |
| Bengaluru 2023 | 71.85% |
| Mumbai 2024 | 62.9% |
| Bengaluru 2019 | 51.16% |
| Chennai 2024 | 27% |
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Hyderabad's corporation says over 80% of its dogs are sterilised, as reported by Siasat in May 2024. The figure is an official claim, not a published survey, so we leave it out of the chart.
Annual sterilisations in selected cities and states
City numbers vary widely. Delhi's municipal corporation sterilised 79,959 dogs in 2023-24 and 59,076 in 2022-23, PTI reported from MCD data. Hyderabad's GHMC sterilised 51,887 in 2023-24.
Tamil Nadu has scaled up fastest in 2026. It sterilised 3,38,135 dogs statewide between late January and July 2026, including 52,226 in Chennai, DT Next reported.
Periods differ; see table. Sources: MCD via PTI; GHMC via Siasat; Kerala via Onmanorama; BMC plan via Free Press Journal.
Show the numbers
| Label | dogs |
|---|---|
| Delhi MCD, 2023-24 | 79,959 |
| Hyderabad GHMC, 2021-22 | 73,601 |
| Delhi MCD, 2022-23 | 59,076 |
| Kerala, Nov 2024 to Sep 2025 | 52,995 |
| Hyderabad GHMC, 2023-24 | 51,887 |
| Hyderabad GHMC, 2022-23 | 47,874 |
| Mumbai BMC target, 2026-27 | 45,000 |
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| Place | Dogs sterilised | Period | Dog population used | Sterilised as share of population (%) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi (MCD) | 79,959 | 2023-24 | 8,25,313 (unpublished estimate) | 9.7 | MCD via PTI; Al Jazeera |
| Hyderabad (GHMC) | 51,887 | 2023-24 | 3,70,000 (GHMC estimate) | 14.0 | Siasat |
| Kerala | 52,995 | Nov 2024 to Sep 2025 | 9,00,000 (state estimate) | 5.9 | Onmanorama |
| Mumbai (BMC) | 45,000 planned | 2026-27 | 90,757 (2024 survey) | 49.6 | Free Press Journal; OpenCity |
| Tamil Nadu | 3,38,135 | Jan to Jul 2026 | not comparable | n/a | DT Next |
| Chennai (GCC) | 52,226 | Jan to Jul 2026 | 1,81,000 (2024 survey) | 28.9 | DT Next |
The share column is a dogeats.in calculation and a rough guide. A dog sterilised last year is still sterilised this year, so annual shares add up over time, minus deaths and new arrivals.
Kerala is slow. At about 53,000 a year against an estimated 9 lakh dogs, it would take well over a decade to reach 70%, even with no new puppies.
The only national total
There is no live national tracker. The closest figure came in a Lok Sabha reply on 6 August 2024. States reported that 24.53 lakh dogs were sterilised in the previous three years.
The yearly average is about 8.2 lakh. Against the 1.53 crore stray dogs in the 2019 Livestock Census, it equals about 5.3% of the population each year, by our calculation.
Source: Lok Sabha reply, 6 August 2024 (PIB 2042170). Covers the three years before the reply.
Show the numbers
| Label | lakh |
|---|---|
| Dogs given anti-rabies vaccine | 101.54 lakh |
| Dogs sterilised | 24.53 lakh |
| Other animals vaccinated | 12.85 lakh |
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Vaccine money comes from a different scheme. The Centre released Rs 719.73 lakh to states over three financial years for 127.37 lakh doses of animal anti-rabies vaccine. That works out to about Rs 5.65 per dose of central share, by our calculation.
How much does it cost to sterilise a street dog in India?
AWBI's advisory of 5 April 2022 set minimum rates of Rs 200 per dog for catching and release and Rs 1,450 for surgery, medicines, feeding and post-operative care. Together they come to Rs 1,650 per dog, until states fix their own rates.
Real contracts are often higher. Mumbai's BMC set aside about Rs 23 crore to sterilise 1,35,000 dogs over three years, as reported by the Free Press Journal in April 2026. That works out to about Rs 1,704 per dog.
| Item | Rs per dog | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AWBI minimum: catching, admission, release | 200 | AWBI advisory 5 Apr 2022, via ThePrint |
| AWBI minimum: surgery and post-operative care | 1,450 | AWBI advisory 5 Apr 2022, via ThePrint |
| AWBI minimum total | 1,650 | dogeats.in sum of the two rates |
| Mumbai BMC budget per dog, 2026-29 | 1,704 | dogeats.in: Rs 23 crore divided by 1,35,000 dogs |
| Central assistance under revised AWBI scheme | 800 | Lok Sabha reply, 19 Aug 2025 |
dogeats.in illustration: 70% of 1,53,04,345 dogs (2019 census) multiplied by Rs 1,650. Ignores dogs already sterilised and new births.
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs crore |
|---|---|
| All India | Rs 1,768 crore |
| Uttar Pradesh | Rs 238 crore |
| Odisha | Rs 200 crore |
| Maharashtra | Rs 147 crore |
| Karnataka | Rs 132 crore |
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Treat these as rough sizes, not budgets. Cities also need land, vets, vans and kennels before a single surgery. The census also undercounts city dogs, so urban costs are likely higher.
Local bodies pay, and AWBI grants have dried up
The animal husbandry ministry told the Rajya Sabha in March 2025 that local bodies or state governments fund ABC directly. Its own sterilisation grants had shrunk to nothing.
AWBI released Rs 24.4 lakh under its stray dog birth control scheme in 2018-19, Rs 7.3 lakh in 2019-20 and Rs 4.03 lakh in 2020-21. It released nothing from 2021-22 to 2023-24.
Source: Rajya Sabha reply, 26 March 2025 (PIB 2115191).
Show the numbers
| Label | Rs lakh |
|---|---|
| 2018-19 | 24.4 |
| 2019-20 | 7.3 |
| 2020-21 | 4.03 |
| 2021-24 | Nil |
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| Support | Amount | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| Sterilisation assistance per dog | Up to Rs 800 | SPCAs and local bodies |
| Sterilisation assistance per cat | Up to Rs 600 | SPCAs and local bodies |
| One-time infrastructure grant | Rs 2 crore | State-run veterinary hospitals |
| Small animal shelter | Up to Rs 15 lakh | Urban bodies, SPCAs, recognised AWOs |
| Large animal shelter | Up to Rs 27 lakh | Urban bodies, SPCAs, recognised AWOs |
The revised scheme covers about half of AWBI's own minimum rate of Rs 1,650 per dog. The rest must come from city budgets.
Does sterilisation reduce street dog numbers and dog bites?
Where coverage is high, numbers have fallen. Bengaluru's count dropped about 10% between 2019 and 2023 while its neutered share rose about 20 points, the government told the Lok Sabha in April 2025.
Mumbai shows a slower version. Its street dog count fell 4.6% from 2014 to 2024, but coverage slipped in most wards. Chennai, at 27% coverage, saw its count roughly triple from 2018 to 2024.
- The Centre told the Lok Sabha in April 2025 that it has not formally assessed the ABC programme's effectiveness, and that results vary by region.
- In the Supreme Court, counsel for animal welfare groups said dog bites in Dehradun fell over 68% under a structured ABC programme. The court recorded this as a submission, not a finding.
- The same judgment recorded that ABC centres often run far below capacity for want of vets, staff and equipment.
The Supreme Court order on ABC centres
In its 19 May 2026 judgment, the Supreme Court said the number of ABC centres across states is grossly insufficient. It found implementation sporadic, under-funded and uneven.
It directed every state and UT to set up at least one fully functional ABC centre in each district, with vets, trained staff, surgical facilities and record-keeping. States must report progress in a set format.
| Item no. | What states must report |
|---|---|
| 2 | Number of functional ABC centres |
| 3 | Number of districts with at least one ABC centre |
| 5 | Veterinarians available for the ABC programme |
| 7 | Stray dogs sterilised in the last six months |
| 8 | Stray dogs vaccinated in the last six months |
| 22 | Budget allocated for ABC implementation |
| 26 | Dedicated feeding spaces in each municipal ward |
Once filed, these affidavits could become the first national, state-wise record of ABC capacity. We will update this tracker when they are public.
For background on street dog numbers by state, see our street dog population report. If you are adopting a sterilised community dog, our Indian Pariah Dog guide covers care.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ABC programme for street dogs?
Animal Birth Control means catching street dogs, sterilising and vaccinating them, and returning them to the same place. It is governed by the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, notified on 10 March 2023. Local authorities run it, often through AWBI-recognised groups.
What percentage of street dogs must be sterilised?
The Centre's July 2025 advisory asked urban bodies to sterilise at least 70% of stray dogs. NAPRE also targets at least 70% rabies vaccination coverage of dogs each year.
Which Indian city has sterilised the most street dogs?
By published survey coverage, Bengaluru leads, with 71.85% of street dogs neutered in its 2023 BBMP survey. Mumbai was at 62.9% in 2024. Hyderabad claims over 80%, but has not published a matching survey.
How much does it cost to sterilise a street dog in India?
AWBI's 2022 minimum rates add up to Rs 1,650 per dog, including Rs 200 for catching and release. Mumbai's 2026 plan works out to about Rs 1,704 per dog. Central assistance covers up to Rs 800.
How many street dogs has India sterilised?
States reported 24.53 lakh dogs sterilised in the three years before August 2024, about 8.2 lakh a year, or about 5.3% of the 2019 census count each year.
What does a cut on a street dog's ear mean?
A V-shaped notch on the right ear means the dog has been sterilised and vaccinated under the ABC programme. Rule 11(16) of the ABC Rules, 2023 requires it and bans branding.
Can a city relocate street dogs after sterilisation?
Under Rule 11(19), dogs must be released where they were caught. The Supreme Court's November 2025 order is an exception for schools, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations.
Does sterilisation reduce dog bites?
Evidence is limited. Bengaluru's dog count fell about 10% as coverage rose from 51% to 72%. The Centre told Parliament in April 2025 it has not formally assessed the programme's effectiveness.
Methodology and limitations
Rules are quoted from the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 as published by AWBI. National sterilisation, vaccination and funding figures come from PIB releases of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha replies.
City coverage figures come from published municipal surveys as reported by the named outlets. Annual sterilisation shares divide one year's sterilisations by the latest population figure for that place. They are dogeats.in calculations and approximate.
The cost to reach 70% multiplies 70% of each 2019 Livestock Census count by AWBI's Rs 1,650 minimum rate. It is an illustration, not an estimate of any budget.
Sources
- Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (G.S.R. 193(E)), via AWBI, Rule text
- PIB, Lok Sabha reply, 6 August 2024, 24.53 lakh dogs sterilised, 101.54 lakh vaccinated, ASCAD vaccine funds
- PIB, Rajya Sabha reply on dog shelters, 26 March 2025, AWBI birth control grants 2018 to 2024
- Also consulted: PIB, Lok Sabha reply on menace of stray dogs, 19 August 2025, Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 4870, DAHD, 1 April 2025, Supreme Court of India, judgment of 19 May 2026, PTI via Deccan Herald, 4 October 2023, OpenCity, 3 February 2026, DT Next, September 2024, DT Next, July 2026, PTI via The Week, 11 August 2025, Siasat Daily, May 2024, Onmanorama, 9 November 2025, ThePrint, 19 August 2025, Free Press Journal, 14 April 2026, Al Jazeera, 30 August 2025, NAPRE national action plan, DAHD 20th Livestock Census district-wise stray dog data.
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