‘Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (PYA)’ Strengthens India’s Preparedness for Animal Health Emergencies and Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks

Now composing the final study note.

'Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (PYA)' — Study Note

1. At a Glance

• PYA is India's third national-level mock drill under the National One Health Mission (NOHM), testing coordinated response to animal health emergencies and zoonotic disease outbreaks [S1].
• Conducted 29 June – 3 July 2026 at Khari village, Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh, by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) [S1].
• Simulated an Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in animals with potential spillover to humans and wildlife, testing the full outbreak-response chain [S1].
• UPSC relevance: tests knowledge of India's institutional zoonotic-preparedness architecture (One Health, NJORT, NOHM) — a recurring GS-III/GS-II theme post-COVID and post-Avian Influenza scares.

2. Why in the News

• PYA was successfully conducted (29 June–3 July 2026), validating India's One Health coordination mechanism for a fifth consecutive drill cycle under NOHM [S1].
• It follows two earlier national mock drills: Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas (VYA), Ajmer, Rajasthan (Aug 2024) and Vishanu Sankraman Pratirodh Abhyas, Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh (Nov 2025) [S2][S3].

3. Background & Evolution

• National One Health Mission approved by Union Cabinet, February 2024, steered by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India [S4].
• 1st mock drill: "Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas," Ajmer, Rajasthan, 27–31 August 2024 — simulated Avian Influenza outbreak [S3].
• 2nd mock drill: "Vishanu Sankraman Pratirodh Abhyas," Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, 2–5 November 2025 — simulated Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) outbreak [S3].
• Follow-up: DAHD held a One-Day Sensitization Workshop on "Addressing Gaps Identified during Mock Drills" (20 March 2026, NASC Complex, Pusa, New Delhi) [S3].
• 3rd mock drill: "Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (PYA)," Khari village, Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh, 29 June–3 July 2026 — simulated H1N1 outbreak [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Administrative - Tests inter-ministerial/inter-agency coordination (DAHD, Health Ministry bodies, MoEFCC, ICAR, state govt) — a governance stress-test for federal + multi-sectoral emergency response [S1]. - Field-level testing (district administration, veterinary/forest/health departments) checks last-mile implementation capacity, not just policy design [S3].

Scientific/Technological - Validates the full technical chain: surveillance, field epidemiology, sample transport, lab diagnosis (NIHSAD, AIIMS BSL-3), risk assessment [S1]. - Reflects India's push to build high-containment (BSL-3/4-type) laboratory capacity for zoonotic pathogens [S1][S3].

Social/Public Health - Zoonotic diseases (H1N1, CCHF, Avian Influenza) directly threaten rural livelihoods (livestock-dependent populations) and public health simultaneously — the drills operationalise the human-animal-environment interface [S1][S3].

Governance/Ethical - Institutionalised feedback loop: gap-identification workshops (March 2026) feeding into subsequent drills shows an iterative, accountability-oriented design rather than one-off exercises [S3].

Environmental - MoEFCC's inclusion signals recognition of wildlife/environment as a transmission vector, aligning with the "One Health" tri-sectoral framework (human-animal-environment) [S1][S4].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• Aug 2024: Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas (1st drill), Ajmer, Rajasthan — Avian Influenza scenario [S3].
• Apr 2025: 2nd Scientific Steering Committee meeting of NOHM held [S4].
• Nov 2025: Vishanu Sankraman Pratirodh Abhyas (2nd drill), Khandwa, MP — CCHF scenario [S3].
• Mar 2026: DAHD sensitization workshop on gaps identified in mock drills, New Delhi [S3].
• 29 Jun–3 Jul 2026: Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (3rd drill), Khari village, Vidisha, MP — H1N1 scenario [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• PYA is the third national-level mock drill under the National One Health Mission [S1].
• PYA was held in Khari village, Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh, 29 June–3 July 2026 (5 days) [S1].
• Implementing department: Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), under Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying — not Health Ministry [S1].
• PYA simulated an Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in animals with human/wildlife spillover [S1].
• The National One Health Mission was approved by the Cabinet in February 2024 and is steered by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) [S4].
• The 1st mock drill, "Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas," was held in Ajmer, Rajasthan (Aug 2024), simulating Avian Influenza [S3].
• The 2nd mock drill, "Vishanu Sankraman Pratirodh Abhyas," was held in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh (Nov 2025), simulating Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) [S3].
• Coordinating mechanism for outbreak response: National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) [S1].
• Key laboratories involved: NIHSAD Bhopal and AIIMS Bhopal (BSL-3 lab) [S1].
• DAHD Secretary who commented on PYA: Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar [S1].
• "One Health" approach = integrated coordination across animal health, human health, wildlife, food safety, laboratory, and district administration sectors [S1].
• Agencies involved in PYA include DAHD, ICAR, NCDC, ICMR, Office of PSA, MoEFCC, and MP state/district administration [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies & interventions; issues relating to health; role of civil services/institutions in emergency governance.
• GS-III: Disaster/emergency management; science & technology in everyday life; conservation, environmental pollution, biodiversity (One Health nexus).
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss the significance of the 'One Health' approach in India's zoonotic disease preparedness. Examine the institutional mechanisms created to operationalise this approach." (GS-III) 2. "Zoonotic spillover events are becoming more frequent due to human-wildlife-livestock interface intensification. Critically evaluate India's mock-drill based preparedness strategy." (GS-III) 3. "Effective disaster/emergency preparedness requires inter-agency coordination. Analyse this in the context of India's National One Health Mission." (GS-II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National One Health Mission (NOHM) — the parent mission; understand its Scientific/Executive Steering Committees [S4].
• National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) — human disease surveillance counterpart in these drills.
• Avian Influenza / H5N1 in India — recurring zoonotic threat referenced in earlier drills [S3].
• National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal — India's key animal-disease containment lab [S1].
• Biosafety Levels (BSL-3/BSL-4) and laboratory biosecurity framework — technical backbone of outbreak response [S1].
• Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 & Disaster Management Act, 2005 — legal architecture for outbreak response (compare with DAHD's administrative mechanism).
• WHO/FAO/WOAH Tripartite One Health framework — international benchmark for India's approach.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Do not confuse implementing ministry: PYA is under DAHD/Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, NOT the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (which is a participating partner via NCDC/ICMR) [S1].
• Do not mix up drill names/diseases: VYA (Ajmer, 2024) = Avian Influenza; VSPA (Khandwa, 2025) = CCHF; PYA (Vidisha, 2026) = H1N1 [S1][S3].
• NOHM was Cabinet-approved in February 2024, distinct from the mock drills which began later that year — don't conflate mission launch date with first drill date [S4].
• The coordinating body is NJORT (National Joint Outbreak Response Team), not to be confused with NCDC's own internal response cells [S1].
• "One Health" is a tri-sectoral concept (human-animal-environment), not merely an animal husbandry initiative — MoEFCC's participation is essential to the concept, not incidental [S1].

11. Sources

• [S1] Pashujanya Yudh Abhyas (PYA) Strengthens India's Preparedness for Animal Health Emergencies and Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2280871 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] Search results confirming VYA/VSPA drill sequence — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2243326&reg=3&lang=2 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Vishanu Sankraman Pratirodh Abhyas: Madhya Pradesh Hosts National Mock Drill to Strengthen Pandemic Preparedness — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2191761 — (tier: 1)
• [S4] Second meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee for the National One Health Mission held on 15th April 2025 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2122180 — (tier: 1)