The National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) launched in 2019, represents one of India's largest livestock health initiatives aimed at controlling and eradicating Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis through nationwide vaccination and surveillance. The programme has administered 147.16 crore FMD vaccine doses, benefiting 8.04 crore farmers. Strengthened immunity has contributed to a significant reduction in disease incidence, with reported FMD outbreaks declining from 132 in 2019 to 40 by 2025 and Brucellosis outbreaks falling from 22 in 2019 to 15 in 2025. The NSP antibody prevalence has declined from 20.8% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2025, indicating reduced circulation of FMD through evidence-based surveillance and sustained disease control efforts. There has been no outbreak of FMD caused by Serotype Asia-1 for the last three years in the country. The programme is supported by strengthened veterinary infrastructure, digital livestock databases, research institutions, and One Health initiatives. More than 39.00 crore livestock have been registered on the Bharat Pashudhan Portal, and 4,019 Mobile Veterinary Units have provided doorstep services to 136 lakh farmers and treated 276 lakh animals. By integrating disease control, digital monitoring, and pandemic preparedness, the NADCP is contributing to a more disease-secure livestock sector in India.

 

Livestock has long been a significant source of livelihood support in Indian agriculture and allied sectors in rural areas. As per the 20^th Livestock Census 2019, the total livestock population is 535.78 million, including 302.79 million bovines. The large livestock population underscores the importance of animal health and well-being. However, infectious diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis have historically caused substantial economic losses due to reduced milk yield, reproductive failure, and trade restrictions.

FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs. The disease reduces milk production, slows growth, affects reproductive performance, and lowers the working capacity of draft animals. It also limits access to international markets. Effective control of FMD depends on regular mass vaccination of all susceptible livestock.

Brucellosis is a reproductive disease of cattle and buffaloes caused by bacteria Brucella abortus. It primarily affects the reproductive organs of animals, disrupting their normal reproductive function. It disrupts fertility and lactation, which, in turn, affects milk and meat production. As there is no curative treatment for bovines, vaccination is the most effective and sustainable control measure.

To strengthen animal health management, the Government launched the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) in September 2019 to control and eradicate FMD and Brucellosis through nationwide vaccination. The programme targets 100 % vaccination of all livestock against FMD twice a year and one time vaccination against Brucellosis in 4-8 months old female bovine calves in their lifetime

 

The programme aims to control Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) through biannual mass vaccination of all eligible livestock and Brucellosis through a one-time vaccination of female bovine calves aged 4–8 months during their lifetime. It also supports disease surveillance and the procurement of cold-chain logistics.

• Mass FMD vaccination of all susceptible bovines and small ruminants every six months.
• Public awareness campaigns and orientation of officials for effective programme implementation.
•  Ear-tagging, registration, and uploading of animal data on the Bharat Pashudhan Portal (NDLM).
• Sero-surveillance and monitoring through pre- and post-vaccination sample testing.
• Procurement of vaccines and cold-chain equipment to ensure quality delivery.
• Outbreak investigation, virus isolation and typing, and regulation of animal movement through quarantine and check-posts.
• Continuous data generation, monitoring, and impact evaluation.
• Remuneration to vaccinators, with a minimum of ₹3 per vaccination dose.

 

Sero-surveillance & Sero-monitoring Sero-surveillance involves population-level assessment of antibody prevalence to estimate disease exposure and immunity, sero-monitoring focuses on longitudinal tracking of antibody levels to understand immunity.

 

Building on the success of NADCP, the Government has integrated disease control, veterinary services and animal healthcare under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP), enabling a more comprehensive and sustainable animal health framework. Under the revised LHDCP, NADCP, the Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH&DC) component, and the Pashu Aushadhi initiative have been subsumed into a single umbrella scheme to facilitate integrated implementation and effective management of livestock health interventions. The total budget outlay for the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) for the financial year 2026–27 is ₹2,010 crore.

 

The scale of interventions undertaken and the measurable outcomes achieved under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) through sustained vaccination, surveillance, and monitoring efforts across the country are as follows:

Cumulative FMD vaccination under the NADCP reached 147.16 crore FMD vaccine doses, benefiting 8.04 crore farmers.

Since 2024, FMD vaccination has been extended to pastoral sheep and goats. The programme covers migratory populations in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to prevent the spread of disease along migratory routes.

 

FMD type O: The most common and widespread serotype in India and many parts of the world. It causes frequent outbreaks. FMD type A: A highly variable serotype, meaning it changes easily and needs well-matched vaccines. FMD type Asia1-A serotype mainly found in South Asia, including India, but less widespread than type O

Sero-monitoring conducted to assess post-vaccination antibody response indicates that the average protective immunity against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus serotypes O, A, and Asia1 stands at 78.1%, 71.7%, and 77.6%, respectively. These levels indicate strong herd immunity. The improved immunity has led to a sharp decline in disease incidence. The reported FMD outbreaks fell from 132 in 2019 to just 40 cases by 2025. This reflects the effectiveness of nationwide vaccination coverage.

 

Under the NADCP, female bovine calves aged 4-8 months receive a one-time Brucellosis vaccination in their lifetime.

In 2025, post-vaccination monitoring shows seroconversion rates (percentage of vaccinated animals that develop antibodies) of 75.63 % in cattle calves and 67.17 % in buffalo calves. The findings indicate effective immunity, which has contributed to a sharp decline in Brucellosis cases. The incidence of reported outbreaks reduced from 22 in 2019 to 15 in 2025, demonstrating the positive impact of the programme's interventions.

 

Financial support is provided to key ICAR institutions to strengthen FMD and Brucellosis control. The support covers vaccine research, quality testing, surveillance, sero-surveillance, disease modelling, and state-wise sampling. These measures ensure the effective and science-based implementation of the programme.

States and UTs receive assistance for procuring vaccination accessories and strengthening cold-chain infrastructure. Through the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, financial assistance is provided to individual entrepreneurs, private companies, and other eligible entities. This supports the establishment of veterinary vaccine and drug manufacturing facilities.

Veterinary facilities and Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) are being strengthened to ensure last-mile animal healthcare. A total of 4,019 MVUs are operational across 29 States and UTs. They provide doorstep veterinary services through the toll-free number 1962. So far, the initiative has benefited 136 lakh farmers and treated 276 lakh animals.

The Bharat Pashudhan Portal integrates livestock registration, FMD, and Brucellosis vaccination data, with each animal assigned a unique 12-digit Tag ID. By July 2026, over 39.00 crore livestock had been registered on the portal. This has enabled real-time monitoring, improved traceability, and a more transparent, data-driven implementation of livestock development programmes.
AI-enabled analytics, vaccination traceability, real-time dashboards and evidence-based planning can further strengthen disease surveillance and resource allocation in future.

Farmer outreach is strengthened through Multi-Purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs), who provide doorstep veterinary services. So far, 39,810 technicians have been trained with financial support.

In 2024, the Government launched the Pandemic Fund Project on "Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response." It is a US$25 million initiative supported by the G20 Pandemic Fund. The project is implemented in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the World Bank.

The project complements the NADCP by strengthening animal health systems to improve pandemic preparedness. It enhances disease surveillance, including genomic and environmental surveillance. It also upgrades laboratory infrastructure and promotes cross-border collaboration. These measures improve early detection and timely response to zoonotic and transboundary animal diseases.

As part of the initiative, the Government released two important documents aimed at strengthening animal health management in India:

• Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG): A comprehensive framework that promotes scientific veterinary practices, rational use of medicines, and antimicrobial stewardship. It also supports the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.
• Crisis Management Plan (CMP) for Animal Diseases: A national framework to strengthen preparedness and guide rapid response during disease outbreaks. It supports timely containment and effective recovery measures.

These documents will serve as important tools for veterinarians, policymakers, and field officials. They will support timely and effective responses to animal health crises and strengthen disease management protocols.

 

The NADCP has emerged as one of India’s most comprehensive and data-driven livestock health interventions. Through sustained nationwide vaccination, strong surveillance systems, digital integration, and targeted financial and infrastructure support, the programme has delivered measurable reductions in FMD and Brucellosis. The sharp decline in outbreaks, improved herd immunity, and clear gains in bovine productivity demonstrate that disease control is directly translating into economic, nutritional, and livelihood benefits for farmers. Early detection of animal diseases reduces the risk of spillover infections, strengthens antimicrobial stewardship and improves national preparedness against future zoonotic pandemics.
Future priorities include progressive alignment with international standards for FMD freedom, expansion of laboratory accreditation, genomic surveillance, AI-enabled disease intelligence, climate-resilient surveillance systems and strengthened One Health coordination.

From one of the world's largest livestock vaccination campaigns to a digitally enabled disease surveillance ecosystem, NADCP has laid the foundation for a healthier, more productive and globally competitive livestock sector. As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, sustained investments in animal health will remain central to ensuring food security, farmer prosperity and pandemic resilience.

 

Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying

https://bharatpashudhan.ndlm.co.in/

https://www.dahd.gov.in/schemes/programmes/nadcp

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2212290&reg=3&lang=2

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2101856

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1937850

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2117330

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2068146

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2157899&reg=3&lang=2

https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/185/AU3729_txHX3D.pdf?source=pqals

https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/268/AU1181_cZK9ZJ.pdf?source=pqars

https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/185/AS371_0BKEvo.pdf?source=pqals

https://www.nddb.coop/sites/default/files/pdfs/NDDB_AR_2023_24_Eng.pdf

https://sansad.in/getFile/annex/270/AS349_IOMzfo.pdf?source=pqars

https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/key%20results.pdf

https://www.dahd.gov.in/sites/default/files/2026-04/AnnualReport2025-26.pdf

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

https://www.psa.gov.in/oneHealthMission

Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India

https://psa.gov.in/CMS/web/sites/default/files/psa_custom_files/Anthology%20of%20S%26T%20Activities_compressed%20%281%29.pdf

Cabinet

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2108419&reg=3&lang=2 

World Health Organization

https://www.who.int/health-topics/one-health#tab=tab_1

 

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PIB Research

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