NEW DELHI — India has concluded a two-day national tabletop exercise to test its preparedness against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) serotype SAT-1, a strain that has not been reported in India but is being increasingly monitored as it spreads beyond Africa into parts of West Asia, IANS reported on Friday (November 6, 2026).

Source: IANS

The exercise, named 'VAJRA-SAT', was organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) in coordination with the ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (ICAR-NIVEDI) at Bengaluru on November 4–5, under the theme "Detect Early, Confirm Fast, Contain Together", according to the DAHD release carried by India Education Diary. It focused on strengthening India's readiness to respond to a potential incursion of the transboundary animal disease and on safeguarding livestock health, farmers' livelihoods and the wider livestock economy.

Source: India Education Diary (DAHD release)

The exercise brought together 83 participants representing 25 states, three Union Territories and key national institutions, including state animal husbandry departments, ICAR institutes, veterinary diagnostic laboratories, veterinary universities, vaccine manufacturers, and defence and border guarding agencies. The Bengaluru Live, reporting from the launch session on November 4, said participants also included the National Dairy Development Board, the National Security Council Secretariat and the Army, Air Force, BSF, ITBP, Assam Rifles and SSB.

Source: The Bengaluru Live

Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr Naveena B.M., who inaugurated the exercise, stressed the need for advance planning, early disease detection, rapid response and close coordination between central and state authorities. ICAR-NIVEDI Director Dr Baldev R. Gulati highlighted the evolving epidemiological landscape of FMD SAT-1 and the role of risk-based surveillance, epidemiological intelligence and early warning systems, while ICAR-National Institute of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Director Dr J.K. Mohapatra emphasised laboratory preparedness, rapid diagnostics and vaccine readiness. Brigadier M.M. Ramachandra of the National Security Council Secretariat stressed enhanced border vigilance and inter-agency coordination, IANS reported.

Organising Secretary Dr Jagadish Hiremath said the exercise simulated a potential SAT-1 incursion through realistic outbreak scenarios, asking agencies to assess information, take time-sensitive decisions and coordinate responses, The Bengaluru Live reported. The institute's press note noted that India does not currently produce an SAT-1 vaccine domestically. A consolidated report identifying preparedness gaps and priority actions is to be submitted to the DAHD.

The concluding session was chaired by Rama Shankar Sinha, Additional Secretary (Livestock Health), DAHD, who called for strengthening preparedness at national and state levels and enhancing diagnostic infrastructure, including regional FMD laboratories and Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories, with technical support from ICAR-NIFMD. A separate technical meeting on FMD-free compartmentalisation was also held on November 5 with the states.