1962 is a toll-free number for animals that need a vet. Calls go to a call centre, which can send a Mobile Veterinary Unit (MVU): a vehicle fitted out for diagnosis, treatment and minor surgery.
How a call works
The call centre passes the call to a veterinary doctor, who decides whether to send an MVU based on how urgent the case is. The call centre confirms the service with the animal owner’s ID and mobile number and shares the record with the state.
Who runs it
The Government of India funds MVUs for states and union territories under its Livestock Health and Disease Control programme, at one MVU for every one lakh livestock. The government describes the service as veterinary care at the farmer’s doorstep, for farmers and dairy owners.
As of , 4,019 MVUs were running in 29 states and union territories. They had served 136 lakh farmers and treated 276 lakh animals.
Is 1962 free?
The call is toll-free. What a unit charges depends on the state: in Tamil Nadu, the vet and paravet on board give emergency care free of cost. Check your state’s animal husbandry department for its terms.
Two states as examples
| State | What its service says |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Launched in 2019. A 24-hour call centre on 1962 sends 32 animal ambulances, which run every day from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM in rural and urban areas. Serious cases are stabilised and referred to the nearest veterinary institution. |
| Karnataka | 290 Mobile Veterinary Units were sanctioned in 2022, run through a public-private partnership. Each has a veterinary doctor, a livestock inspector and a driver-cum-attendant. |
If 1962 does not answer in your area
Not every state runs the service in the same way. See who to call for an animal emergency in India and who to call first for an injured animal, or find a government vet or rescue group near you in the Directory. While you wait, follow how to stay safe and help an injured animal.
Questions and answers
What is the 1962 helpline?
A toll-free number for animals that need a vet. Calls go to a call centre, which can send a Mobile Veterinary Unit fitted out for diagnosis, treatment and minor surgery.
Is 1962 free?
The call is toll-free. What a unit charges depends on the state: in Tamil Nadu, the vet and paravet on board give emergency care free of cost.
Who decides whether a Mobile Veterinary Unit comes?
A veterinary doctor at the call centre, based on how urgent the case is.
How many Mobile Veterinary Units are there?
As of , 4,019 MVUs were running in 29 states and union territories.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- PIB, : Union Minister inaugurates Mobile Veterinary Units (Karnataka; how the call centre works; 1 MVU per lakh livestock) (read )
- PIB Backgrounder, : National Animal Disease Control Programme (4,019 MVUs in 29 States and UTs) (read )
- Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services: Animal Mobile Medical Ambulance (read )
