National One Health Mission

A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach uniting human, animal, and environmental health sectors recognising that the health of people, animals, and our planet are inextricably linked.

What is One Health

One Health is a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach that unites human, animal, and environmental health sectors. It recognizes the interconnectedness of these domains, aiming to optimize health outcomes and address challenges across the sectors.

One Health has major implications for India. India with its diverse wildlife, one of the largest livestock populations and high density of human population, carries heightened risks for inter-compartmental spread of diseases. One health approach relies on shared and effective governance, communication, collaboration and coordination. Having the One Health approach in place makes it easier for people to better understand the co-benefits, risks, trade-offs and opportunities to advance equitable and holistic solutions.

The Covid pandemic, outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease in cattle and the constant threat of Avian Influenza demonstrate the need to address diseases across all sectors. Livestock, wildlife and plant sectors impact productivity, health and conservation aspects. This also opens opportunities for leveraging the complementarity and strengths that are inherent in each sector and devising integrated, robust and agile response systems.

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LATEST UPDATES

Fifth Scientific Steering Committee Meeting on National One Health Mission Held in New Delhi

Published on: May 18 2026

EoI on "Development of Artificial Intelligence Enabled Tools for Early Detection of Emerging/Novel pathogens in Humans, Animals, and the Environment under the National One Health Mission" (EoI No. NOHM/EOI/2026/E-252746/A) Last Date: February 13, 2026

Published on: Feb 06 2026

One Health Governance Model Framework for State/Union Territories Released

Published on: Dec 17 2025

INDIA’S ONE HEALTH ARCHITECTURE

There are many One Health efforts underway in various Ministries of the Government of India, in private organizations in addition to a range of activities globally. This presents a prospect to review the areas of focus underlying each effort, identify opportunities for collaboration and work towards filling any remaining gaps. Considering this, The Prime Minister's Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in its 21st meeting, approved to set up a National One Health Mission with a cross-ministerial effort which will serve to coordinate, support, and integrate all the existing One Health activities in the country and fill gaps where it is appropriate. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the implementing agency for One Health Mission.

The mission received further impetus in February 2024, with the approval of the Director position for National Institute of One Health, Nagpur by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This institute will be the anchor for the One Health mission and co-ordinate the activities of the mission in the country.

An integrated framework developed collaboratively by over 13 government ministries/ departments guides the mission. This framework facilitates coordination and synergy across sectors for priority activities.

The Governance of the National One Health Mission

Executive committee - The Executive committee chaired by Hon’ble Minister, MoHFW with PSA as vice chair and Member Health, NITI Aayog is a permanent invitee. Secretaries of various stakeholder departments and two states (on rolling basis) are members. The committee provides overall policy guidance for the progress of the mission and its associated activities.

Scientific Steering Committee - The committee is chaired by the PSA, and provides overall scientific direction, oversight and guidance to the National One Health Mission.

Advisory and review committee - Advisory and Review Committees provide thematic expertise to the Mission by bringing together experts from government, academia, research institutions, and partner organizations. They guide the Mission's technical priorities, review progress, and recommend strategies to strengthen One Health implementation.

National & International Partners

NGO’S

Private Sector

Multi-lateral organizations

Academic institutions

G20 and other forums

Public engagement

Goals of the One Health Mission

The Mission aims to coordinate across achieving overall pandemic preparedness and integrated disease control against priority diseases of human, animal and environmental sectors with early warning systems built on integrated surveillance system and response readiness for endemic as well as emerging epidemic or pandemic threat.

The mission will also address critical pillars of preparedness in the form of targeted R&D to develop critical tools such as vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, readiness in terms of clinical care, streamline data and information linkages and access across sectors as well as close community participation to keep our readiness to respond.

The following robust efforts are being undertaken to achieve the various goals under the mission:

Pandemic Preparedness & Routine Prevention Programs

Preparedness is important not just the human pandemics but also the animal diseases of pandemic potential which have high economic costs to the farmers and can have important implications for wildlife conservation through spread into protected species. Human and animal pandemic preparedness is a key pillar of the One Health Mission, which relies on effective surveillance stategies, developing early warning systems, boostiong research, innovation and manufacturing, infrastructure, community engagement and data integration across sectors.

One of the key initiatives, under this goal is creation of a network of BSL 3/4 labs, within the framework of the One Health Mission. This network will play a critical role in preventing, detecting, and responding promptly and effectively to disease outbreaks across human, livestock and wildlife sectors. Currently there are 22 labs in this Network. This network which is geographically distributed and accessible to all stakeholders (humans, livestock and wildlife) for analysis of disease outbreak samples will enhance India’s preparedness for emergencies.

Pandemic
Preparedness

Improved Resource Sharing

Endemic Disease Control

Coordination & Governance

Simplified Regulatory Process

Early Response Mechanisms

R&D Capabilities

Stockpile Management

Enablers of the One Health Mission

These outcomes of the One Health Mission will be supported by critical enabling initiatives. Many of these initiatives are ongoing and will be strengthened under the mission and several new activities that will facilitate the goals of the mission will be undertaken.

Build a Governance Model

One Health mission has a collaborative Governance model with decentralized decision making. To ensure sustainability and continued improvement of all aspects of the mission, integration of the efforts into existing programs will be done.
To effectively address the diverse aspects of the National One Health Mission, four specialized advisory and review committees have been established.

These committees focus on the following key themes:

•  National network of BSL 3/ 4 laboratories
•  Technology enhanced integrated surveillance & outbreak investigation
•  Research and Development on medical countermeasures
•  Integration of databases and data sharing.