Introduction: Defining One Health and Its Urgency in India

The One Health approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health to address complex health challenges. Originating from global health discourses, it gained prominence after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and was institutionalized by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, citing that over 60% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. India faces recurring zoonotic outbreaks—18 reported between 2018-2023 (NCDC, 2023)—and escalating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), projected to cause 2 million deaths annually by 2050 (OECD, 2019). These factors underscore the need for a multisectoral, coordinated One Health policy framework.

Legal and Constitutional Framework Supporting One Health in India

Article 21 of the Indian Constitution implicitly guarantees the Right to Health, which extends to preventive measures against zoonoses and environmental hazards. The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009 provide statutory bases for controlling human and animal epidemics respectively. Environmental health is governed under The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 addresses zoonotic risks via food safety. The National Health Policy 2017 explicitly calls for intersectoral coordination, while the Draft National One Health Strategic Framework (2022) by MoHFW and MoFAHD aims to operationalize multisectoral integration by 2025.

• Article 21: Basis for health rights including zoonotic disease prevention
• Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897: Human epidemic control
• Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009: Animal health governance
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Environmental safeguards
• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: Zoonotic foodborne disease control
• National Health Policy 2017: Emphasis on multisectoral health coordination
• Draft National One Health Strategic Framework 2022: Blueprint for integrated surveillance and response

Economic Stakes of One Health Integration in India

India’s health budget for 2023-24 stands at ₹89,155 crore (Economic Survey 2024), yet fragmented sectoral spending limits pandemic preparedness. Globally, zoonotic diseases cause $80 billion annual losses (WHO, 2023). AMR threatens India’s economy with a potential $1.2 trillion GDP loss by 2050 (OECD, 2019). The livestock sector contributes 4.11% to GDP (2022-23) and employs over 8.8 crore people (MoFAHD, 2023), linking animal health directly to rural livelihoods and food security. Integrated One Health surveillance can reduce outbreak response costs by up to 30% (World Bank, 2022), highlighting economic efficiency gains from multisectoral coordination. India’s National Digital Health Mission aims to unify health data streams, potentially enhancing One Health surveillance capabilities.

• ₹89,155 crore health budget (2023-24)
• $80 billion global economic loss from zoonoses annually
• $1.2 trillion projected GDP loss due to AMR by 2050
• 4.11% GDP contribution by livestock sector
• 8.8 crore employed in livestock sector
• 30% cost reduction potential via integrated surveillance
• National Digital Health Mission: data integration platform

Institutional Architecture and Coordination Challenges

Key institutions include ICMR (human health research), ICAR (veterinary research), MoHFW (human health policy), MoFAHD (animal health and zoonoses control), NCDC (disease outbreak control), and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) (environmental health). Despite their mandates, India lacks a legally binding unified One Health governance mechanism, resulting in siloed data and poor inter-ministerial coordination. Only 25% of states have integrated human-animal health surveillance systems (NCDC, 2023). This fragmentation delays outbreak detection and AMR containment, undermining health security.

• ICMR: Human health research and surveillance
• ICAR: Veterinary and animal health research
• MoHFW: Human health policy and implementation
• MoFAHD: Animal health and zoonoses control
• NCDC: Disease outbreak investigation and control
• NBA: Environmental health and biodiversity conservation
• 25% states with integrated surveillance systems
• Absence of legally binding One Health governance

Comparative Insights: India vs United States One Health Implementation

The US institutionalized One Health via the CDC’s One Health Office in 2009, integrating human, animal, and environmental health data streams. This coordination enables 40% faster outbreak detection and response compared to India’s fragmented system (CDC Annual Report, 2022). The US model features legally mandated data sharing, joint task forces, and robust inter-agency protocols. India’s lack of similar statutory frameworks and operational coordination hampers timely response and AMR control.

Significance and Way Forward for India’s One Health Strategy

India must enact a legally binding One Health governance structure to unify surveillance, data sharing, and outbreak response across human, animal, and environmental sectors. Operationalizing the Draft National One Health Strategic Framework (2022) by 2025 is critical. Strengthening digital health infrastructure through the National Digital Health Mission can facilitate multisectoral data integration. Capacity building at state levels to expand integrated surveillance beyond the current 25% coverage is needed. Economic incentives for livestock health and AMR containment will protect rural livelihoods and national GDP. Finally, institutionalizing inter-ministerial coordination committees with clear roles and accountability will reduce response delays and improve pandemic preparedness.

• Legislate unified One Health governance framework
• Implement Draft National One Health Strategic Framework by 2025
• Expand integrated surveillance coverage beyond 25% states
• Leverage National Digital Health Mission for data integration
• Invest in capacity building and infrastructure at state level
• Align economic policies to support livestock health and AMR control
• Institutionalize inter-ministerial coordination mechanisms

Jharkhand & JPSC Relevance

• JPSC Paper: Paper 2 (Health and Environment), Paper 3 (Economic Development and Rural Livelihoods)
• Jharkhand Angle: Jharkhand’s large livestock-dependent rural population and forest biodiversity make it vulnerable to zoonotic diseases and environmental health risks, necessitating One Health integration.
• Mains Pointer: Frame answers highlighting Jharkhand’s livestock economy, forest-human interface risks, and the need for state-level integrated surveillance and capacity building under the One Health framework.