Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment

Context: The Delhi High Court has asked the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) to conduct physical survey of all circuses in the country to verify the condition of animals being kept there.

Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

• It is a statutory body
• It is an advisory body advising the Government of India on animal welfare laws, and promotes animal welfare in the country of India.
• The Animal Welfare Board of India was established in 1962 under Section 4 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960.
• The Board consists of 28 Members, who serve for a period of 3 years.
• It works to ensure that animal welfare laws in the country are followed and provides grants to Animal Welfare Organisations.
• The Board was initially within the jurisdiction of the Government of India’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture. In 1990, the subject of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was transferred to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, where it now resides.
• It frames a range of rules on how animals ought to be humanely treated everywhere. It has also frequently litigated to have stricter laws to ensure animals were not unduly harassed or tortured.
• HQ shifted to Ballabhgarh in Faridabad District of Haryana from Chennai, Tamil Nadu