Source: PIB
Context
The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, on 3 July 2026 successfully concluded Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (PYA) — the 3rd national-level mock drill under the National One Health Mission (NOHM). The 5-day exercise (29 June – 3 July 2026) was held at Khari village, Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh and simulated an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) in animals with spillover potential to humans and wildlife. Built around the One Health approach, the drill tested the full response chain — disease surveillance, early warning, sample collection + transport, laboratory diagnosis, risk assessment, biosecurity, containment, movement control, and public communication — with participation from DAHD, ICAR, NCDC, ICMR, Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), ICAR-NIHSAD Bhopal, AIIMS Bhopal, MoEF&CC, and Madhya Pradesh’s state + district departments, under the coordination of the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT). DAHD Secretary Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar described the exercise as “the One Health approach in action.”
The exercise at a glance
- Name: Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (PYA).
- Meaning: “Zoonotic Warfare Exercise” (Sanskrit-origin: Pashu = animal + Janya = originated from + Yudh Abhyas = war exercise/drill).
- Edition: 3rd national-level mock drill under the National One Health Mission.
- Organiser: Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.
- Duration: 29 June – 3 July 2026 (5 days).
- Venue: Khari village, Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh.
- Framework: One Health approach.
- Simulated outbreak: Influenza A (H1N1) in animals with potential spillover to humans + wildlife.
- Concluding debrief: 3 July 2026 under the Chairmanship of the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, DAHD, with the Director, NCDC and Director, Animal Husbandry, MP in attendance.
What was tested during the drill?
The full “first alert to containment” response chain:
- Disease surveillance — active + passive.
- Early warning + outbreak reporting — chain-of-communication.
- Outbreak investigation + field epidemiology — case tracing.
- Sample collection + transportation — cold chain, biosafety.
- Laboratory diagnosis — RT-PCR, sequencing.
- Risk assessment — public health + wildlife impact.
- Incident management — Incident Command System.
- Biosecurity — PPE, quarantine, disinfection.
- Containment operations — culling, ring vaccination.
- Movement control — animal + human movement restrictions.
- Public communication — risk messaging, media briefings.
What is the One Health approach?
- An integrated, unifying approach recognising that the health of people, animals, plants, and the shared environment are interconnected.
- Approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate in animals (zoonoses).
- Enables cross-sectoral collaboration between human health, veterinary health, wildlife, and environment sectors.
- Endorsed globally by the Quadripartite Alliance — FAO + UNEP + WHO + WOAH.
- One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH-JPA) 2022–2026 — global framework by the Quadripartite.
What is the National One Health Mission (NOHM)?
- Approved by: The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) at its 21st meeting in July 2022.
- Nodal Coordinator: Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India.
- Anchor Institution: National Institute of One Health (NIOH), Nagpur — foundation stone laid by PM Modi in December 2022.
- Vision: Build an integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness system in India by unifying human, animal, and environmental sectors.
- Ministries involved: 13+ ministries and departments — Health, Animal Husbandry, Environment, Defence, DBT, CSIR, AYUSH, ICMR, ICAR, MoHFW, MoEFCC etc.
What is Influenza A (H1N1)?
- Also known as swine flu (in its 2009 pandemic strain).
- Caused the 2009-10 global H1N1 pandemic — first pandemic of the 21st century.
- A zoonotic virus — originally emerged in pigs; transmits to humans through respiratory droplets.
- Structure: RNA virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family; “H” = hemagglutinin, “N” = neuraminidase surface proteins.
- Symptoms: Fever, cough, sore throat, body ache, fatigue (like seasonal flu but potentially severe).
- Currently: H1N1 has become part of seasonal flu; monitored via India’s Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
What is DAHD?
- Full form: Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
- Union Minister: Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) (2024-present).
- Secretary: Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar.
- Role: Overall development of livestock, dairy, and animal husbandry sector.
- Key programmes: National Livestock Mission, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, National Digital Livestock Mission.
Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (PYA), consider the following statements:
- It was the third national-level mock drill under the National One Health Mission.
- It was conducted from 29 June to 3 July 2026 at Khari village in Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh.
- It simulated an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) in animals with spillover potential to humans and wildlife.
- It was organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; PYA was organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying — NOT the Ministry of Home Affairs.)
Q2. With reference to the National One Health Mission (NOHM), consider the following statements:
- It was approved by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in 2022.
- It is anchored by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India.
- Its anchor institution is the National Institute of One Health, Nagpur.
- It is a single-ministry initiative led entirely by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (e) None
(Statement 4 is wrong; NOHM is a multi-ministerial initiative involving 13+ ministries and departments — including Health, Animal Husbandry, Environment, Defence, DBT, CSIR, AYUSH, ICMR, ICAR etc. — NOT a single-ministry initiative.)
Answer Key
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: Organised by DAHD, not MHA.
- (c) — Statement 4 wrong: NOHM is multi-ministerial, not single-ministry.
Exam Relevance
- NABARD Grade A: Very High — ESI + ARD papers on livestock, animal health, zoonotic disease impact on rural economy.
