Policy, Acts and Rules

The Acts and Rules governing animal welfare in India that SAS India cites in its legal work. Each summary describes the general subject the rule covers — read the linked official PDF for the actual text.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (English)

  India's core animal-cruelty law — the foundation nearly every other rule on this page builds on.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals Rules, 1965

  Welfare standards for animals used to pull carts or carry loads.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Licensing of Farriers) Rules, 1965

  Licensing requirements for farriers who shoe and care for animal hooves.

• ✓The Performing Animals Rules, 1973

  Conditions governing the training and exhibition of animals in performances.

• ✓The Transport of Animals Rules, 1978

  Space, ventilation, and handling standards for transporting animals.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Application of Fines) Rules, 1978

  Governs how fines collected under the PCA Act are applied toward animal welfare.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Registration of Cattle Premises) Rules, 1978

  Registration requirements for premises that keep cattle.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty (Capture of Animals) Rules, 1979

  Standards for safely and humanely capturing animals, including strays.

• ✓Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001

  Registration requirements for owners and trainers of performing animals.

• ✓Performing Animals (Registration) Amendment Rules, 2002

  Amendments refining the 2001 performing-animals registration rules.

• ✓Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Transport of Animals on Foot) Rules, 2001

  Standards for herding or walking animals over distance.

• ✓Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001

  Licensing and humane-handling standards for slaughterhouses.

• ✓Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Establishment and Regulation of Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Rules, 2001

  How Societies for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCAs) are formed and regulated.

• ✓Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001

  Standards for sterilization and vaccination programs that manage community dog populations — the basis for feeder and community-animal protections.

• ✓Transport of Animals (Amendment) Rules, 2001

  Amendments to the 1978 animal transport standards.

• ✓Transport of Animals (Amendment) Rules, 2009

  Further amendments to animal transport standards.

• ✓Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2010

  Amendments to the 2001 slaughterhouse standards.

• ✓Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Amendment Rules, 2010

  Amendments to the dog birth-control program rules.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules, 2017

  Standards for caring for animals held as evidence in ongoing legal cases.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules) Rules, 2017

  Registration and welfare standards for dog breeders and sellers — the basis for illegal-breeding complaints.

• ✓The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Pet Shop Rules) Rules, 2018

  Licensing and welfare standards for pet shops.