Steps taken for Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases

1. At a Glance

Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs) in India: six diseases tackled under the National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme (NVBDCP) — Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Lymphatic Filariasis, and Kala-azar [S2].
Administered by the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) within the umbrella of the National Health Mission (NHM) [S1][S2].
High UPSC salience: intersects GS-II (health governance, centre-state) and GS-III (S&T, disease ecology, climate-health linkage).

17 March 2026 PIB release by MoHFW reiterating steps for prevention and control of VBDs, including free JE vaccine under UIP and Sentinel Surveillance network for Dengue and JE [S1].
Union Health Minister J P Nadda reviewed Dengue and Malaria preparedness with States to galvanise preventive activities [S3].

National Malaria Control Programme launched 1953; rechristened National Malaria Eradication Programme (1958).
NVBDCP constituted in 2003-04 by merging vertical programmes (malaria, filaria, kala-azar, JE, dengue; chikungunya added later) [S2].
Renamed/restructured as National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) under Directorate General of Health Services [S2].
National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016-2030) aligned with WHO Global Technical Strategy; revised target: zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027, sustain elimination by 2030 [S2].

Implementing body: NCVBDC, Dte.GHS, MoHFW; funded via NHM (Centre-State cost sharing) [S1][S2].
Diseases covered (6): Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, JE, Lymphatic Filariasis, Kala-azar [S2].
Elimination targets: Malaria — 2030; Kala-azar — eliminated as public health problem (<1 case per 10,000 at block level); Lymphatic Filariasis — elimination via MDA [S2].
JE Vaccine: Free under Universal Immunization Programme (UIP); 2 doses at 9-12 months and 16-24 months; given in endemic districts [S1][S3].
Surveillance network for Dengue & JE: Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (SSH) + Apex Referral Laboratories (ARLs); GoI supplies test kits free [S1][S3].
Capacity (overall VBD diagnostics): 869 SSH and 27 ARLs provide free testing; >5,520 Dengue diagnostic kits supplied to States in 2025 [S3].
JE-specific: 28 SSH identified, kits provided free by MoHFW [S3].
Supportive interventions: Behaviour Change Communication (BCC), Inter-sectoral Convergence, Human Resource Development [S1].
Constitutional anchor: Public Health is a State subject (Schedule VII, List II, Entry 6) [S1].

Administrative / Federal: Centre provides financial & technical assistance via NHM; States execute (case management, fogging, insecticides) — classic cooperative federalism model with implementation asymmetry [S1][S2].
Scientific / Technological: Integrated Vector Management (IVM) — Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), larvivorous fish, source reduction; rapid diagnostic kits (NS1, IgM ELISA) [S2][S4].
Social / Equity: Kala-azar concentrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, WB, UP; JE burden in Assam, UP, Bihar, WB — predominantly tribal/poor rural; equity gap in BCC and ASHA reach [S2].
Environmental / Climate: Urbanisation, monsoon variability, stagnant water, deforestation alter Aedes/Anopheles ecology; WHO flags climate change as expanding VBD geography [S4].
Geopolitical: WHO Global Vector Control Response (GVCR) 2017-2030 mirrored by India; SE Asia Region (SEARO) collaboration on cross-border malaria [S4].

17 Mar 2026 — MoHFW reiterated JE vaccination, SSH/ARL surveillance, and BCC strategy [S1].
2025 — >5,520 Dengue diagnostic kits supplied to States; J P Nadda chaired Dengue-Malaria review [S3].
World Malaria Day 2025 observed with renewed push toward 2027 zero-indigenous-case milestone [S2].
Joint NVBDCP-WHO national consultation on Integrated Vector Management aligned with GVCR [S4].

NVBDCP covers 6 VBDs: Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, JE, Lymphatic Filariasis, Kala-azar [S2].
Nodal body: NCVBDC (renamed from NVBDCP HQ), under Dte.GHS, MoHFW [S2].
JE vaccine under UIP: 2 doses at 9-12 months and 16-24 months [S1].
869 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals + 27 Apex Referral Labs for VBD diagnosis [S3].
28 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals specifically for JE diagnosis [S3].
India's malaria elimination target year: 2030 (zero indigenous cases by 2027) [S2].
Kala-azar vector: Phlebotomus argentipes sandfly; JE vector: Culex mosquito; Dengue/Chikungunya: Aedes aegypti.
Public Health is a State subject — Centre supports via NHM [S1].
Three supportive interventions: BCC, Inter-sectoral Convergence, HRD [S1].
WHO global framework: Global Vector Control Response 2017-2030 [S4].
Funding route: National Health Mission, MoHFW [S1].
Diagnostic kits for Dengue & JE provided free of cost by GoI [S1].

GS-II: Issues relating to development & management of Social Sector/Services — Health; Government policies & interventions.
GS-III: Science & Technology — health technology; Disaster Management (epidemic preparedness).
Probable stems: 1. "Despite multiple vertical disease control programmes, India's vector-borne disease burden persists. Examine the structural and ecological reasons." 2. "Discuss the role of Integrated Vector Management in achieving India's 2030 malaria elimination target." 3. "Public health being a State subject often hampers uniform vector-borne disease control. Critically analyse."

National Health Mission (NHM) — parent funding architecture.
Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) & Mission Indradhanush — vaccine delivery rails.
One Health Initiative — zoonoses & vector ecology link.
National Framework for Malaria Elimination 2016-30 — strategy document.
WHO Global Vector Control Response 2017-30 — international alignment.
Kala-azar Elimination Programme — sub-target tracking.
Climate change and health — IPCC AR6 health chapter.
ICMR–NIMR / National Institute of Malaria Research — R&D pillar.

NVBDCP vs NCVBDC — same programme, renamed centre; do not treat as separate.
JE vaccine schedule — 2 doses (not 3); ages 9-12 mo & 16-24 mo, not at birth [S1].
Mosquito-disease pairing: Aedes → Dengue/Chikungunya/Zika; Culex → JE/Filaria; Anopheles → Malaria; Phlebotomus (sandfly) → Kala-azar (not a mosquito).
Confusing Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals (869) with JE-specific SSH (28) [S3].
Malaria target: eliminate by 2030, not eradicate; WHO certifies elimination after 3 consecutive years of zero indigenous cases.
Public health is State subject — Centre cannot directly implement, only fund/coordinate [S1].

[S1] Steps taken for Prevention and Control of Vector-Borne Diseases — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2241081 — (tier: 1) [user-supplied excerpt; live fetch returned 403]
[S2] World Malaria Day – 2025 / NVBDCP overview — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2124334 — (tier: 1)
[S3] Union Health Minister reviews Dengue and Malaria — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2165607 — (tier: 1)
[S4] NVBDCP-WHO India webinar on vector-control strategies — https://www.who.int/india/news/item/23-07-2020-nvbdcp-and-who-india-jointly-organized-a-webinar-on-vector-control-strategies-in-the-times-of-covid-19 — (tier: 2)