India’s growing pet economy outpaces veterinary infrastructure, prompting calls for dedicated policies

India’s rapidly expanding companion animal population is highlighting a significant gap in veterinary infrastructure and policy focus, with the government’s latest budget prioritising rural livestock over pet-care needs amid rising demand and insurance growth.

India’s response to a fast-growing pet economy is arriving through livestock policy rather than a dedicated companion-animal plan. The Union Budget 2026-27 promises expanded veterinary infrastructure, mobile units and doorstep services, plus a subsidy scheme intended to raise the number of veterinary professionals to more than 20,000, but the measures are framed by the ministry around dairying, farmer producer groups and rural livelihoods. Meanwhile, Hindustan Times cited an estimated 37.9 million companion animals in India, rising towards 52 million by 2030.

The supply gap is stark. NITI Aayog says India has 65,894 veterinary institutions against a requirement of about 1.07 lakh, implying a shortfall of roughly 41,000 on the National Commission on Agriculture norm of one doctor or institution for every 5,000 animals. The same scarcity is visible in cities: The Times of India reported that Coimbatore clinics send difficult cases to Bengaluru or Thrissur, while a district polyclinic handles about 140 morning cases and has had no new hires or animal handlers since 2013.

Costs are rising faster than risk protection. Business Standard reported that insurers expected India’s pet-insurance market to reach Rs 6,500 crore by 2025, yet the product remains niche. India Today found owners in smaller towns still struggle to obtain timely advice, emergency care and advanced treatment, suggesting telemedicine may ease triage but not replace missing hospitals.