The National One Health Mission Assembly 2025 wrapped up its two-day deliberations at Bharat Mandapam on Saturday, reinforcing India’s commitment to coordinated action across human, animal and environmental health. Senior officials, scientists, development partners and implementation agencies came together to advance an integrated One Health ecosystem aimed at preparedness and resilience.
After a strong opening day that highlighted whole-of-government collaboration, Day 2 deepened discussions on scientific innovation, operational readiness and programmatic priorities. Experts underscored the need for stronger national capacities, integrated surveillance and rapid response mechanisms to tackle emerging public health threats.
Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, led the day’s discussions and called for sustained collaboration, robust system preparedness and community engagement as core pillars of One Health. He emphasised the role of frontline workers, local governance and community-led mobilisation in early detection and response, noting that India’s One Health efforts have reached a critical inflection point.
Senior leaders including Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research and DG, ICMR, and Dr Rajesh S Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, highlighted the importance of innovation, translational science and the convergence of biological, artificial and natural intelligence to drive future health technologies. Representatives from FAO, the Ministry of Health, DRDO, ICAR, THSTI, CEPI, FIND, AYUSH and the International Vaccine Institute brought diverse scientific and global perspectives.
Sessions on medical countermeasures focused on accelerating vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, strengthening regulatory pathways for emergencies and enhancing collaboration between scientific agencies, industry and international partners. State governments shared on-ground insights on surveillance, inter-departmental coordination and field-level preparedness.
Capacity-building discussions stressed the need for a skilled workforce, multi-tiered training systems and deeper integration of One Health principles into professional education. Experts highlighted the importance of community partnerships and locally adapted engagement strategies to build trust and resilience.
An exhibition showcased India’s advancing capabilities in surveillance, biosafety, laboratory systems, digital platforms and collaborative research. The Assembly also hosted a felicitation ceremony for the National One Health Hackathon, which brought forward technology-driven, community-focused solutions from students and early-career innovators.
The Assembly closed with a unified acknowledgement that One Health is central to the national vision of Viksit Bharat, and that scientific excellence, cross-sector coordination and strengthened preparedness will be key to building a safer and more resilient future.
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