Science TechnologyFriday, 16 October 2026·The Hindu - National
India’s rabies mortality data gap: ICMR estimate, IDSP and MCCD figures compared
A 2026 report highlighted the mismatch between ICMR’s estimated rabies deaths and government surveillance data in India.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On October 16, 2026, a report on rabies surveillance in India cited an ICMR-NIE study estimating 5,726 annual rabies deaths, while the Health Ministry’s IDSP-IHIP recorded 54 deaths in 2024 and the MCCD system recorded 271 medically certified deaths in 2023.
Key specifics
- The ICMR-NIE study surveyed 3,37,808 people in 78,807 households across 60 districts in 15 States.
- The study estimated about 9.1 million animal bites every year in India, including about 5.6 million dog bites.
- IDSP-IHIP reported 21 rabies deaths in 2022, 50 in 2023 and 54 in 2024.
- The MCCD system recorded 66 medically certified rabies deaths in 2022 and 271 in 2023.
- The National Centre for Disease Control has said human rabies is being considered for notification across India under State legislation.
Exam lens
TNPSC science-and-health questions may ask about rabies surveillance systems, ICMR-NIE, IDSP-IHIP and MCCD; note the 5,726 estimate, 54 reported deaths in 2024, and the 2030 elimination target.