NADCP Scheme 2026 – Free FMD Vaccination & Dairy Benefit

NADCP Scheme 2026 – Free FMD Vaccination & Dairy Benefit

NADCP Scheme 2026

NADCP scheme 2026 is giving India’s dairy farmers a powerful, completely free tool to stop one of the biggest silent killers of milk income — Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis. If you own even one cow or buffalo in a village in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, or Maharashtra, this National Animal Disease Control Programme can directly protect your monthly dairy earnings. Backed by a Rs.13,343 crore central outlay with 100% funding from the Government of India, NADCP delivers free FMD and Brucellosis vaccination, ear-tagging, and digital health records to every eligible animal. This guide covers everything: how the scheme works, the FMD and Brucellosis vaccination schedule for 2026, eligibility, the step-by-step vaccination process, INAPH integration, state-wise coverage status, money saved per animal, and answers to the most common farmer questions.

NADCP Scheme 2026 – Free FMD Vaccination & Dairy Benefit
NADCP Scheme 2026 – Free FMD Vaccination & Dairy Benefit

What Is NADCP Scheme 2026? National Animal Disease Control Programme Explained

The National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) is a flagship Central Sector Scheme launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister in September 2019 to control and eventually eradicate two of the most economically damaging livestock diseases in India — Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis. The programme’s overall aim is to control FMD by 2025 through mass vaccination, with complete eradication targeted by 2030. For Brucellosis, an intensive control approach is being followed to manage the disease effectively in both animals and the humans who work closely with them.

NADCP is designed as a Central Sector Scheme, meaning 100% of the funds are provided by the Central Government to States and Union Territories — there is zero financial burden on state governments or on individual farmers. Under the programme, the entire susceptible population of bovines (cattle and buffalo), small ruminants (sheep and goats), and pigs are vaccinated against FMD, while all female bovine calves aged 4 to 8 months receive a once-in-a-lifetime Brucellosis vaccine dose. In 2026, mass vaccination rounds are actively continuing across states, with campaigns such as Andhra Pradesh’s door-to-door FMD vaccination drive running from mid-March through late April 2026, covering all cattle and buffaloes including calves above four months of age, entirely free of cost.

Foot and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral vesicular disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and pigs. It causes major economic losses through reduced milk yield, poor growth rate, infertility, and lower working capacity in bullocks — and it also triggers trade embargoes in international markets for milk and meat products. Brucellosis, meanwhile, is a zoonotic disease (meaning it can spread from animals to humans) that causes early abortions in cattle and buffalo and prevents new calves from being added to the herd, directly cutting into a dairy farmer’s future income.

NADCP 2026 Budget and Funding Breakdown

The national animal disease control programme was originally sanctioned with a total outlay of Rs.13,343 crore for five years covering 2019-20 to 2023-24, later reported in parliamentary releases as Rs.12,652 crore in central funding through 2024. Because the target of covering India’s massive livestock population — the world’s largest at over 125 crore heads — could not be completed in the original window, vaccination rounds have been extended and continue into 2025 and 2026, with states running fresh biannual campaigns as part of the ongoing mission.

Budget & Coverage ItemDetails (Rs.)
Total NADCP Outlay (5-year programme)Rs.13,343 crore
Central Government Funding Share100% (zero state/farmer cost)
Target Livestock Heads for FMDOver 50 crore (500 million+)
Female Bovine Calves for Brucellosis (annual)Around 3.6 crore (36 million)
Vaccinator Remuneration per DoseMinimum Rs.3 per FMD vaccination dose
Ear-Tagging + Data Entry PaymentRs.2 per animal
Cost to Individual FarmerRs.0 — completely free
📌 Key Facts at a Glance — NADCP Scheme 2026
  • 🏛️ Organisation: Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Govt. of India
  • 💰 Total Outlay: Rs.13,343 crore (100% central funding)
  • 💉 Diseases Covered: Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) + Brucellosis
  • 🐄 Animals Covered: Cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs
  • 📅 FMD Vaccination Frequency: Every 6 months (mass rounds)
  • 🐮 Brucellosis Vaccination: Once-in-a-lifetime for female calves (4–8 months)
  • 🏷️ Identification: Mandatory ear-tagging under INAPH
  • 📝 Application Mode: No application needed — walk-in with animal during vaccination drive

FMD and Brucellosis Vaccination Schedule 2026

Under the fmd vaccination free 2026 drive, the schedule follows a fixed biological logic rather than a random calendar. Understanding this schedule helps every dairy farmer plan ahead and make sure no animal in the herd is missed during a round.

  • 💉 FMD Mass Vaccination: Conducted at six-monthly intervals for the entire susceptible population of bovines, sheep, goats, and pigs in a district.
  • 🐮 FMD Calf Primary Dose: Bovine calves receive their first FMD shot at 4–5 months of age, then join the regular six-monthly cycle.
  • 🩸 Brucellosis Vaccination: Given only once in an animal’s lifetime, to female bovine calves aged 4–8 months, before their first pregnancy.
  • 🪱 Pre-Vaccination Deworming: Farmers are advised to deworm animals about one month before the scheduled vaccination to boost vaccine effectiveness.
  • 📢 Advance Notice: The Animal Husbandry Department announces village-wise dates through wall writing, banners, and door-to-door awareness before each round begins.
  • 🧪 Post-Vaccination Testing: A sample of animals undergoes seromonitoring (blood testing) after each round to verify vaccine effectiveness across the district.

Recent 2026 activity confirms these rounds are very much live on the ground. For example, Andhra Pradesh’s Animal Husbandry Department launched a statewide door-to-door FMD vaccination campaign for all cattle and buffaloes, including calves above four months, running from 16 March 2026 to 29 April 2026, entirely free of cost. Similar round-based campaigns are cycling through other major dairy states, so farmers in Bihar, UP, Punjab, and Maharashtra should stay in contact with their local veterinary institution for their block’s exact nadcp vaccination schedule 2026.

Money Saved — How NADCP Reduces Dairy Farm Losses

This is the section every dairy farmer should read twice. FMD and Brucellosis are not just health problems — they are direct attacks on monthly household income, and the numbers make this very clear.

Disease ImpactFinancial/Production Loss Without Vaccination
FMD infection in a milking animalUp to 100% milk loss, lasting 4–6 months
Brucellosis in a cow/buffaloAround 30% reduction in milk output across the animal’s entire life cycle
Brucellosis effect on breedingEarly abortions, fewer new calves added to the herd
FMD effect on bullocks/draught animalsReduced working capacity for farm labour
Trade impactInternational trade embargo risk on milk and meat exports
Human health risk (Brucellosis)Zoonotic transmission risk to farm workers and family members
Cost of NADCP vaccination to farmerRs.0 — fully covered by Central Government

Put simply — one round of free vaccination under the national animal disease control programme can prevent months of lost milk income that no small dairy household can easily absorb. For an FPO or Farmer Producer Organisation running a milk collection centre, herd-wide FMD protection also means fewer supply disruptions and more predictable monthly procurement volumes.

Eligibility — Which Animals and Farmers Qualify for NADCP 2026

Unlike loan or subsidy schemes, NADCP does not use income category, land size, or caste-based eligibility filters for the vaccination itself — this is a universal public health programme. However, understanding the animal-level eligibility rules helps farmers prepare correctly for each vaccination round.

CategoryEligibility Criteria
FMD — Cattle & BuffaloAll ages from 4–5 months onward; six-monthly repeat doses
FMD — Sheep & GoatsEntire susceptible population in vaccination zone
FMD — PigsEntire susceptible population in vaccination zone
Brucellosis — Female Bovine CalvesStrictly 4–8 months of age, before first pregnancy, one dose for life
Farmer EligibilityAny livestock owner — no income, land, or category restriction
Application FeeNil for all categories — General, OBC, SC/ST, EWS alike
Documents RequiredNone mandatory; Aadhaar/animal ownership details help for INAPH record

Because the scheme is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% government funding, there is no application fee table to worry about — a rare exception compared to most agri and PSU application processes where category-wise fee waivers (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD) usually apply. Here, every category is treated identically: zero cost.

Step-by-Step NADCP Vaccination Process for Farmers

Getting your cattle or buffalo vaccinated under NADCP is a simple, walk-in process — there is no online application, no portal login, and no waiting period for approval.

  1. Watch for the announcement: Track wall posters, panchayat announcements, or your local veterinary institution for the upcoming vaccination round date in your village or block.
  2. Deworm the animal: If time allows, deworm your cattle/buffalo about one month before the scheduled date for maximum vaccine effectiveness.
  3. Bring the animal to the vaccinator: On the announced Animal Vaccination Day (AVD), bring your animal to the designated point, or wait for the door-to-door team in campaigns that cover every household.
  4. Ear-tagging (first-time animals): If the animal is not already tagged, the vaccinator applies a unique ear-tag for identification — animals already tagged under other schemes are not re-tagged.
  5. INAPH registration: The vaccinator records the animal’s details — species, age, owner — into the INAPH Animal Health Module using the ear-tag ID.
  6. Vaccine administration: The FMD dose (or Brucellosis dose for eligible female calves) is administered on the spot by the trained vaccinator.
  7. Receive your Vaccination Certificate: An Animal Health Card / Vaccination Certificate is issued or updated digitally against your animal’s ear-tag ID.
  8. Repeat every 6 months (FMD only): Mark your calendar — the next FMD round will follow roughly six months later; Brucellosis is one-time only for eligible calves.
✅ Pro Tip for Dairy Farmers
Never refuse ear-tagging even if your animal already looks healthy. An untagged animal cannot be tracked in INAPH, which means it may be skipped in the next FMD round, and you also lose access to future scheme benefits (like cattle insurance or dairy loans) that increasingly require an INAPH-linked ear-tag as proof of ownership and vaccination history.

INAPH Integration — Why Ear-Tagging Matters Beyond Vaccination

One of the most important — and most underrated — parts of NADCP is its deep integration with INAPH (Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health), the national digital database for livestock. Every animal identified by ear-tagging under NADCP is registered and its data uploaded to the Animal Health Module of INAPH, creating a permanent, traceable digital record.

  • 🏷️ Unique Ear-Tag ID: Acts as the animal’s permanent identity across all future government schemes and health records.
  • 📱 Digital Animal Health Card: Stores full vaccination history, so farmers and vets can instantly check when the next dose is due.
  • 🗺️ Area-Wise Coverage Data: INAPH generates block, district, and state-level percentage coverage, which the Department uses to plan the next round.
  • 🔄 No Duplicate Tagging: Animals already tagged under any other INAPH-linked scheme are not tagged twice, reducing stress on the animal.
  • 🔗 Gateway to Other Schemes: An INAPH-registered, vaccinated animal becomes eligible for smoother processing under cattle insurance, dairy loan, and animal movement documentation in many states.

In several states, INAPH functions have now migrated to the newer Bharat Pashudhan App, but the underlying purpose remains the same — a single, traceable digital identity for every vaccinated animal in India, which strengthens both disease control and long-term dairy farm record-keeping for the owner.

Who Should Get Animals Vaccinated Under NADCP?

NADCP is built for every kind of livestock owner in rural India — from a single-cow household to a large commercial dairy operation. Here is who benefits most directly:

  • 🐄 Small and marginal dairy farmers who depend on 1–3 cows or buffaloes as their main household income source.
  • 👩‍🌾 Women-led dairy households managing daily milking and animal care, who benefit directly from reduced disease-related income loss.
  • 🏭 FPO and dairy cooperative members supplying milk to collection centres, where herd-wide immunity keeps daily procurement volumes stable.
  • 🐃 Buffalo owners in high-density dairy belts of UP, Punjab, and Bihar where FMD spreads fastest through close herd contact.
  • 🐐 Sheep and goat rearers in semi-arid and hilly regions who are equally covered under the FMD vaccination umbrella.
  • 🐖 Pig farmers in the Northeast and other pig-rearing states, who often overlook FMD risk in their herds.
  • 🌾 SC/ST and landless livestock keepers who rely entirely on animal rearing since they lack agricultural land.
  • 🎓 Aspiring veterinary and animal husbandry professionals who should understand NADCP’s field operations as part of exam preparation and career knowledge.

State-Wise NADCP Coverage Status 2026

NADCP implementation is coordinated centrally by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying but executed state-by-state through District and Block level veterinary machinery. Coverage rounds are staggered rather than simultaneous, which is why one state may be mid-campaign while another has just completed a round.

State2026 NADCP Activity Status
Andhra PradeshStatewide door-to-door FMD drive, 16 March – 29 April 2026, all cattle & buffalo
BiharBiannual FMD round ongoing via District Animal Husbandry Department + Bharat Pashudhan App tracking
Uttar PradeshLarge-scale bovine coverage due to high dairy density; INAPH ear-tagging drive active
PunjabHigh buffalo-population coverage priority under six-monthly FMD cycle
MaharashtraState scheme portal lists NADCP among active DAHD-Maharashtra programmes for 2026

Exact block-level dates vary, so farmers should always confirm their nadcp vaccination schedule 2026 with the local veterinary hospital, District Animal Husbandry Officer, or Gram Panchayat rather than relying only on state-level news.

NADCP Free Vaccination vs Private Veterinary Vaccination

FactorNADCP (Government)Private Veterinary Vaccination
Cost to FarmerRs.0 — fully freeRs.150–Rs.400+ per dose typically
Coverage ScopeEntire village/district in mass roundsOnly animals brought individually
Ear-Tag & Digital RecordYes — linked to INAPH nationallyRarely linked to any national database
Vaccine TypeGovernment-procured, quality-tested FMD/Brucellosis vaccineVaries by clinic/brand
Frequency ReminderState-announced 6-monthly roundsFarmer must self-track
Certificate IssuedAnimal Health Card via INAPHInformal receipt, if any
Best ForAll dairy farmers, especially small/marginal householdsEmergency single-animal treatment outside scheduled rounds
🎯 Expert Verdict
For routine biannual FMD protection and one-time Brucellosis coverage, NADCP is the clear choice for every dairy household — it costs nothing, comes with official ear-tag documentation, and plugs directly into India’s national livestock health database. Private vaccination should be reserved only for urgent, off-schedule situations between official NADCP rounds.

High-Value Livestock Health Terms You Must Know

  • FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease): A highly contagious viral disease causing up to 100% milk loss for 4–6 months in an infected animal.
  • Brucellosis: A zoonotic bacterial disease causing abortion and roughly 30% lifetime milk loss in infected cattle/buffalo.
  • INAPH: The Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health — India’s central livestock database linked to ear-tag IDs.
  • Ear-Tagging: Permanent animal identification method now mandatory for accessing most livestock scheme benefits.
  • Animal Health Card: The digital/physical certificate showing an animal’s complete vaccination history under NADCP.
  • Central Sector Scheme: A scheme category (like NADCP) where 100% funding comes from the Central Government, unlike Centrally Sponsored Schemes shared with states.
  • Seromonitoring: Blood-sample testing conducted after vaccination rounds to check how well the vaccine is working across a region.
  • Bharat Pashudhan App: The newer mobile-based livestock data platform gradually replacing INAPH in several states for field-level entry.
  • Mass Vaccination Drive: A coordinated, village-by-village vaccination campaign covering nearly all eligible animals in a short window.
  • Zoonotic Disease: A disease like Brucellosis that can transmit from animals to humans, making vaccination a public health priority too.

FAQs on NADCP Scheme 2026 (राष्ट्रीय पशु रोग नियंत्रण कार्यक्रम 2026)

What is NADCP scheme 2026?

NADCP scheme 2026 (National Animal Disease Control Programme) is a 100% central government funded programme that provides free FMD and Brucellosis vaccination to cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and pigs across India, with a total outlay of Rs.13,343 crore.

Is NADCP vaccination free for farmers?

Yes, NADCP vaccination is completely free. Vaccine cost, cold chain logistics, ear-tags, and vaccinator remuneration are all covered 100% by the Central Government, so dairy farmers pay nothing for FMD or Brucellosis vaccination.

How often is FMD vaccination given under NADCP?

FMD vaccination under the national animal disease control programme is given at six-monthly intervals as mass vaccination rounds, covering the entire susceptible bovine, sheep, goat, and pig population in each round.

Which animals get free Brucellosis vaccination under NADCP?

Brucellosis vaccination is given once in a lifetime to female bovine calves aged 4 to 8 months, covering cattle and buffalo calves, as this is the most effective age window before first pregnancy to prevent the disease.

How is NADCP linked to INAPH and ear tagging?

Every animal vaccinated under NADCP is first ear-tagged with a unique ID and registered on the INAPH (Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health) database, which generates a digital Animal Health Card and tracks vaccination coverage area-wise.

How much money does FMD vaccination save a dairy farmer?

FMD infection can cause up to 100% milk loss for 4 to 6 months in an infected animal, while Brucellosis can reduce lifetime milk output by 30 percent, so free vaccination under NADCP directly protects a farmer’s monthly dairy income.

How do I get my cattle vaccinated under NADCP 2026?

Farmers do not need to apply online. They should contact their local veterinary officer, Gram Panchayat, or Pashu Sakhi, or watch for the door-to-door mass vaccination campaign announced by the State Animal Husbandry Department in their block.

What documents are needed for NADCP vaccination?

No documents or fees are required for NADCP vaccination itself. Farmers only need to be present with their animal so the vaccinator can ear-tag the animal and register it under the farmer’s name on the INAPH Animal Health Card system.

What is the difference between NADCP and Livestock Health Disease Control Programme?

NADCP specifically targets FMD and Brucellosis with 100% central funding, while the broader Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) covers additional diseases like Classical Swine Fever and PPR, often using the same INAPH ear-tagging infrastructure built under NADCP.

This guide is regularly reviewed and updated for accuracy. Bookmark this page for the latest nadcp scheme 2026 notifications and state-wise FMD vaccination schedule updates.

For official details, refer to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying NADCP scheme page, check your animal’s records on the INAPH NADCP dashboard, review disease information via the ICAR National Institute of Foot and Mouth Disease, and track national livestock policy updates through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India.

Last Updated: July 2026