National tabletop exercise ‘VAJRA-SAT’

Why in News?

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), in coordination with ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (ICAR-NIVEDI), Bengaluru, organised the two-day national tabletop exercise ‘VAJRA-SAT’ on 4–5 November 2026 to assess India’s preparedness for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) serotype SAT-1.

Key Features

• Theme: “Detect Early, Confirm Fast, Contain Together”.
• Organisers: DAHD, Government of India, in coordination with ICAR-NIVEDI, Bengaluru.
• Objective: To strengthen national preparedness and coordinated response to transboundary animal diseases.
• Focus: Preparedness for a possible introduction and spread of FMD serotype SAT-1 in India.
• Current status in India: FMD serotype SAT-1 has not been reported in the country.
• Reason for the exercise: SAT-1 has spread beyond Africa to parts of West Asia, creating a need for proactive preparedness.

About Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)

• FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs.
• It is caused by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV), which belongs to the Aphthovirus genus.
• The seven recognised serotypes are: O, A, C, SAT-1, SAT-2, SAT-3 & Asia-1.

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