Indian university becomes first to ban controversial animal depression test

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) has become the first Indian institution to officially halt the Forced Swim Test (FST) on animals. The move comes after a sustained campaign by PETA India, which highlighted the test's cruelty and questionable scientific value. Over 100 scientists and experts have backed the call to abandon the controversial procedure. The FST involves placing small animals, often mice or rats, into beakers of water after dosing them with test substances. Forced to swim to avoid drowning, the animals' behaviour is then observed as a supposed measure of human depression. Critics, including many researchers, argue that the test fails to accurately model depression in people.

PETA India has long pushed for an end to the practice, persuading several universities and institutions worldwide to drop the test. While no other state universities or research bodies in India have yet confirmed discontinuing it, the Pharmacy Council of India has instructed agencies under its control to review its use. GADVASU's decision marks a potential turning point. The university's stance could encourage other government-run institutions to follow suit. PETA India is now pressing the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA) to impose a nationwide ban on the test.

The ban at GADVASU reflects growing opposition to the FST among scientists and animal welfare groups. With regulatory bodies now reviewing its use, further restrictions may follow. The move also aligns with a broader global shift away from the test in research and pharmaceutical development.