National Exercise Vajra-SAT Concludes to Combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Livestock

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, in collaboration with the ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (ICAR-NIVEDI), organised a two-day national tabletop exercise titled 'Vajra-SAT' in Bengaluru. Held on November 4 and 5, 2026, the exercise focused on preparedness against the SAT-1 serotype of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). The entire programme was conducted under the theme “Detect Early, Confirm Fast, Contain Together”.

According to a report from PIB Delhi, FMD serotype SAT-1 has not been recorded in India so far. However, as the disease has spread from Africa to parts of Western Asia, this exercise was undertaken as a proactive measure to safeguard animal health, farmers' livelihoods, and the livestock economy.

The exercise saw participation from 83 representatives across 25 states, 3 union territories, and key national institutions. This included representatives from state animal husbandry departments, ICAR institutes, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, veterinary universities, vaccine manufacturers, as well as defence and border security agencies. Through hypothetical outbreak scenarios, participants discussed early detection of the disease, laboratory confirmation, epidemiological investigation, control of livestock movement, vaccination preparedness during emergencies, risk communication, and integrated response.

The programme was inaugurated on November 4 by Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Naveena B.M., who emphasised the importance of effective coordination between central and state agencies and early detection of the disease. Dr. Baldev R. Gulati, Director of ICAR-NIVEDI, highlighted the changing epidemiological status of FMD SAT-1 and the need for an early warning system. Dr. J.K. Mohapatra, Director of the ICAR-National Institute of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (ICAR-NIFMD), stressed laboratory preparedness and rapid diagnosis, while Brigadier M.M. Ramachandra, Director of the National Security Council Secretariat, emphasised border vigilance and inter-agency coordination.

The closing session on November 5 was chaired by Shri Rama Shankar Sinha, Additional Secretary (Livestock Health), DAHD. He spoke about enhancing the capacity of regional FMD laboratories and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RDDLs) with technical support from ICAR-NIFMD. Participants highlighted the importance of timely reporting, vaccine readiness, and inter-state coordination. The suggestions derived from this exercise will be used to develop a national response strategy.

Additionally, a separate technical meeting on FMD-free compartmentation was held on November 5, 2026. Co-chaired by the Additional Secretary (LH) and the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, the meeting discussed FMD-free compartmentation of semen production centres and semen banks to protect livestock genetic resources and promote secure trade.