Maarg Manthan · Topic 19.4

Animal Welfare Board of India

Environment & Ecology › Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India · Topic 19.4

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is a statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws and the promotion of animal welfare. It was set up in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, following the efforts of Rukmini Devi Arundale, who became its first Chairperson. The Board is headquartered at Ballabgarh, Faridabad in Haryana (earlier Chennai), and is under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, after being under the Environment Ministry for many years. It has 28 members, appointed by the Central Government, including Members of Parliament, representatives of animal welfare organisations, veterinarians, and state and ministry officials. Its functions include advising the Government on amending laws and rules, advising on prevention of cruelty to animals and on design of slaughterhouses, recognising animal welfare organisations and providing them grants, registering performing animals, appointing Honorary Animal Welfare Officers, monitoring animal shelters, ensuring welfare of animals during transport, in laboratories and at events, and running awareness programmes. It has issued rules on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Performing Animals Rules (1973), Slaughter House Rules (2001) and Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules (2001, replaced in 2023). In Animal Welfare Board of India v A Nagaraja (2014) the Supreme Court recognised animals' rights to live with dignity and banned jallikattu, a decision later affected by state amendments upheld in 2023.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

At a Glance

Act Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Set up 1962
First chair Rukmini Devi Arundale
HQ Ballabgarh, Haryana
Members 28
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Environmental Institutions and Schemes in India

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the National Board for Wildlife and covers a different body: the statutory board for the welfare of animals, which is separate from the wildlife conservation framework. Previous topic: National Board for Wildlife. Next topic: Central Zoo Authority.

What Is the AWBI and What Does It Do?

Feature	Details
Legal base	Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Establishment	1962, after efforts by Rukmini Devi Arundale, who was the first Chairperson
Headquarters	Ballabgarh, Faridabad, Haryana
Ministry	Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Composition	28 members including MPs, animal welfare organisations, veterinarians and officials
Functions	Advise on cruelty prevention laws; recognise and fund animal welfare organisations; register performing animals; appoint Honorary Animal Welfare Officers; monitor shelters and transport
Rules	Performing Animals Rules 1973, Slaughter House Rules 2001, Transport of Animals Rules, Animal Birth Control Rules

Which Cases and Laws Shape Its Work?

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960: penalises unnecessary pain and suffering to animals; penalties are small
Animal Welfare Board v A Nagaraja, 2014: Supreme Court banned jallikattu and bullock cart races and recognised animals’ five freedoms
Article 51A(g): compassion for living creatures is a Fundamental Duty
Article 48: directive to protect cows and calves
Five freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst, discomfort, pain, fear and for normal behaviour
Animal Birth Control Rules: deal with stray dogs; revised in 2023
Jallikattu 2023: Supreme Court upheld state amendments allowing it, a debated outcome
Criticism: weak penalties, limited enforcement and funding

What Else Should You Remember?

Rukmini Devi Arundale: classical dancer and Rajya Sabha member who piloted the 1960 Act
PCA Act 1960: defines animal and cruelty and lists offences
Section 11: treating animals cruelly is an offence
Section 3: duty of persons having care of animals
Section 38: power to make rules
Performing animals: must be registered with the Board; bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions banned from training for performance
Animal Welfare Officers: honorary officers help enforcement
Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: registered SPCAs get recognition
Gau Seva: grants for cow shelters
Animal shelters: AWBI gives grants for rehabilitation
Animal transport: Transport of Animals Rules, 1978
Slaughter: Slaughter House Rules, 2001
Animal experiments: CPCSEA, set up under the PCA Act in 1964, regulates experiments on animals
CPCSEA: Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals
Wildlife vs welfare: Wildlife Act protects wild animals, PCA Act covers all animals including captive and domestic
Stray dogs: Animal Birth Control programme replaced culling
Draft bill: Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill 2022 proposed higher penalties; check its status
Animals in circuses: the Board recommended bans on wild animals
Festivals: Board works on bans on cruelty in festivals
Cattle markets: rules of 2017 on cattle sale were stayed
Link to previous: see National Board for Wildlife
Link to next: see Central Zoo Authority
Link to ethics: see 42nd Amendment, 1976 Exam…">Constitutional Provisions Related to Environment
Caution: rules and court decisions change, so check the Board’s website
Exam hint: remember Act 1960, Board 1962, Rukmini Devi Arundale and the Nagaraja case
Funding to organisations: the Board gives grants to registered animal welfare organisations for shelters, ambulances and sterilisation drives
Awareness: campaigns cover humane treatment of working animals, such as draught animals, and the harm of cruelty at festivals
Draught animals: rules and campaigns cover overloading and injury of bullocks, horses and donkeys used for transport
Animals in laboratories: the CPCSEA approves and inspects facilities that use animals in research
Veterinary role: veterinarians certify fitness for transport and performance and give treatment in shelters
Dog rules: local bodies and resident welfare associations have duties under the Animal Birth Control rules

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Act: 1960
Board: 1962
First chair: Rukmini Devi Arundale
Current affairs link: Jallikattu and stray dogs
Common errors: treating AWBI as a wildlife body

As an analytical point, the AWBI shows that animal welfare is a separate area from wildlife conservation, covering domestic, captive and farm animals. Stronger penalties and enforcement are needed because the 1960 Act’s fines are small.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Law PCA Act
Body AWBI
Gap Penalties

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Central Zoo Authority. Next topic: Central Zoo Authority.

Key People and Terms

AWBI Animal Welfare Board of India
PCA Act Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
CPCSEA Animal experiment committee
SPCA Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
HAWO Honorary Animal Welfare Officer
ABC Animal Birth Control

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Act: 1960, Board: 1962.
First chair: Rukmini Devi Arundale.
HQ: Ballabgarh.
28 members.
Nagaraja case: 2014.

Do Not Confuse With

AWBI and NBWL Animal welfare versus wildlife conservation
PCA Act and Wildlife Act All animals’ welfare versus wild animals’ protection
AWBI and CPCSEA Welfare board versus experiments committee

Memory Hook

Sixty Act, sixty-two Board; Rukmini led; jallikattu fell and rose.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for Act, year and founder. These points help.

Role Welfare
Cases Nagaraja
Gaps Penalties

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss the role of the Animal Welfare Board of India and the legal framework for the prevention of cruelty to animals.”

How to Answer

Law 1960 Act.
Board Functions.
Cases Nagaraja.
Gaps Penalties.

GS Relevance

Prelims: year, Act, founder, HQ. GS Paper 2 and 3: animal welfare institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Animal Welfare Board of India?

The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body, set up in 1962 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to promote animal welfare and prevent unnecessary pain and suffering to animals. It advises the Government, recognises animal welfare organisations and registers performing animals. It is based at Ballabgarh, Haryana.

Who was the first Chairperson of the AWBI?

Rukmini Devi Arundale, the classical dancer and Rajya Sabha member, was the first Chairperson of the Animal Welfare Board of India. She was the main driver of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the creation of the Board in 1962, and she is regarded as a pioneer of the animal welfare movement in India.

What did the Supreme Court decide in the Nagaraja case?

In Animal Welfare Board of India v A Nagaraja (2014), the Supreme Court banned jallikattu and bullock cart races, holding that they violated the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and recognised that animals have rights to live with dignity, including the five freedoms. Later, states amended the law to allow jallikattu and the Court upheld those amendments in 2023.

What are the five freedoms of animals?

The five freedoms, adopted from animal welfare science and recognised by the Supreme Court, are freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition; from fear and distress; from physical and thermal discomfort; from pain, injury and disease; and freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour. They guide welfare standards for farm, working and companion animals.

How does animal welfare law differ from wildlife law?

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 applies to all animals, especially domestic and captive ones, and focuses on preventing cruelty. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 protects wild species and their habitats through protected areas and bans on hunting and trade. They have different administering bodies: the AWBI and the wildlife boards.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The AWBI was established in 1962.

True

Under the 1960 Act.

2 Rukmini Devi Arundale was the first Chairperson of the CZA.

False

Of the AWBI.

3 The AWBI is based at Ballabgarh.