- Why in news
- The DAHD and WOAH held a three-day workshop on FMD-free zone development in India at NASC, New Delhi, from 15–17 September 2026. It ended on 17 September with State Action Plans refined and PPP opportunities identified.
- What it is
- WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health) is an intergovernmental body, headquartered in Paris, that sets international standards for animal health and zoonoses. Its PVS Pathway assesses and strengthens the Veterinary Services of member countries. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals, and WOAH officially recognises FMD-free status for countries and zones.
- Event
- A three-day PVS–PPP Targeted Support Workshop on FMD-free zone development was held at NASC, New Delhi, on 15–17 September 2026.
- India's target
- India aims to control FMD and ultimately obtain FMD freedom by 2030 under the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme.
- Progress figures
- More than 147.16 crore FMD vaccine doses have been given. Outbreaks fell from 132 in 2019 to 40 in 2025.
- Support to states
- The Department is supporting States under the Support to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) framework to address veterinary infrastructure gaps.
- WOAH
- WOAH is headquartered in Paris. It was formerly known as the OIE (Office International des Epizooties).
Don’t confuse with FMD-free zone vs compartment: A zone is defined by geography. A compartment is defined by a subpopulation under a common biosecurity management system, such as a farm or a value chain.
Don’t confuse with WOAH vs FAO: WOAH sets animal health standards and recognises disease status. FAO is a UN agency on food and agriculture, and the two jointly run some disease-control initiatives.
International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.
Why it matters
- FMD-free zones can open export markets for dairy and livestock products.
- Lower FMD losses protect farmer incomes and milk productivity.
Problems
- Maintaining zone biosecurity needs strict movement control and animal traceability.
- Veterinary infrastructure and laboratory capacity differ widely across States.
- Exotic serotypes such as SAT could threaten progress.
Way forward
- Finalise time-bound State Action Plans with PPP in vaccine supply, diagnostics and traceability.
- Keep up vaccination and post-vaccination monitoring, and meet WOAH recognition requirements.
Put in your answer
Outbreak decline: FMD outbreaks fell from 132 in 2019 to 40 in 2025, which shows the effect of the vaccination programme.
Target year: The national objective is FMD-free status by 2030.
- 2020Mains GS2 · Q9Critically examine WHO's role in global health security during Covid-19.
- 2005Prelims Q130Which milching-animal diseases are infectious, including foot and mouth disease?
- 2002Prelims Q118Which organism causes foot-and-mouth disease: bacterium, fungus, protozoan, or virus?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: WOAH-linked disease-free zone work is a lasting topic, but this release is a workshop with few testable facts.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.