India, March 27 -- New Delhi

Demand for veterinary care has steadily increased in Delhi despite a decline in livestock population amid rapid urbanisation, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26.

Currently, the city has 46 government veterinary hospitals, 25 dispensaries, one laboratory, a farmer information centre and three mobile veterinary units, which catered to 545,754 animals in the 2025-26 financial year, which was up from 538,458 in 2024-25-pointing to improved awareness among farmers and pet owners, according to the survey tabled in the Assembly earlier this week.

The livestock population, however, has decreased from 366,397 in 2012 to 307,267 in 2019, according to the 20th Livestock Census. The survey attributed this to shri...