UGC guidelines on phasing out animal dissection spark controversy

Is virtual dissection an effective learning tool?;

For decades, zoology students in colleges have studied the internal workings of animals by cutting them open. But a set of guidelines, recently issued by the University Grants Commission, overturns this 90-year-old practice. The move has sparked a controversy. Animal rights and wildlife activists have welcomed guidelines while some scientists have slammed them.

The apex body for standardising education in India has issued the guidelines to all universities and colleges that run life sciences and zoology courses, saying animal dissection in their laboratories should be discontinued in a phased manner. The practice is to be replaced by field visits and digital alternatives. The guidelines, which were posted on the UGC Website on November 24, are immediately effective. It applies to all universities that are funded by UGC. The guidelines will not affect medicine courses, regulated by the Medical Council of India.

What the guidelines say

	The guidelines issued to all universities and colleges that run life sciences and zoology courses, say animal dissection should be discontinued in a phased manner The practice is to be replaced by field visits and digital alternatives Students at the undergraduate level (BSc) will not able to use animals during experimentation. However, cutting open one species by faculty for demonstration purpose is allowed At the post graduate level, students are allowed to dissect two animal species As part of the immediate actions, UGC wants all institutes to strictly adhere to the Wild Life Protection Act of 1972 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 The former bans use of endangered species for dissection, particularly frogs and sharks. The latter requires that experiments on animals are avoided wherever it is possible to do so—in medical schools, hospitals, colleges and the like if other teaching devices such as books, models and films may equally suffice”

Experts divided over guidelines

Digital alternative

Rationale for the guidelines

	An increased number of institutes and students has led to indiscriminate use of animals for experimentation. The guidelines further note that most of these animals are caught from the wild.