**Executive Summary**
This document presents the response to Unstarred Question No. 1318 in Lok Sabha regarding the establishment of virus detection and surveillance institutes in India, particularly concerning the State of Kerala. It outlines government initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and the Department of Health Research (DHR). The question was to be answered on February 6, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Institutes of Virology (NIVs):**
* ICMR is setting up Zonal NIVs at Bengaluru, Jabalpur, and Jammu (BSL-3 labs) and Dibrugarh (BSL-4 lab).
* A National Institute for One Health (NIOH), Nagpur, is being established with BSL-4 and BSL-3 labs.
* **Viral Research and Diagnostics Laboratories (VRDLs):**
* Five VRDLs are being upgraded to BSL-3 facilities with ICMR support through PM-ABHIM.
* 165 VRDLs have been set up across 27 States and 5 Union Territories under the DHR's VRDL scheme.
* VRDL network activities continuously carry out virus detection and surveillance.
* **Objectives and Functions:**
* Strengthen capacity for early detection, diagnosis, and research on high-risk pathogens.
* Support outbreak investigations and molecular surveillance.
* Promote a One Health approach.
* Enhance preparedness for public health emergencies.
* **Kerala-Specific Measures:**
* Government of India, through DHR under the VRDL Scheme, is strengthening virus surveillance, detection, and research infrastructure in Kerala.
* This includes strengthening VRDLs with equipment, reagents, and trained manpower; upgrading laboratories for molecular diagnostics; conducting regular training and capacity-building programmes; and supporting research on emerging and re-emerging viral diseases.
* Several VRDLs have been established in Kerala (see table below).
* **VRDLs in Kerala:**
* Government Medical College, Kozhikode (Regional Level).
* National Institute of Virology Field Unit, Alappuzha (State Level).
* Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram (Medical College Level).
* Government Medical College, Thrissur (Medical College Level).
* Government Medical College, Kannur (Medical College Level).
* Government Medical College, Manjeri (Medical College Level).
* Government Medical College, Ernakulam (Medical College Level).
* Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram (Medical College Level).
* **ICMR Support for Kerala:**
* ICMR has a field unit of ICMR-NIV in Alappuzha.
* ICMR supports Kerala through existing national surveillance and laboratory networks, access to reference laboratories, genomic surveillance platforms, deployment of Mobile BSL 3, and technical support during outbreak investigations.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for establishing Zonal NIVs and upgrading VRDLs.
* **Action Required:** Continue setting up and supporting virus surveillance infrastructure.
**Stakeholder: Department of Health Research (DHR)**
* **Impact:** Oversees the VRDL scheme and strengthens virus surveillance infrastructure in various states including Kerala.
* **Action Required:** Continue strengthening virus surveillance infrastructure through the VRDL scheme.
**Stakeholder: State Governments (Specifically Kerala)**
* **Impact:** Receives support for strengthening virus surveillance, detection, and research infrastructure.
* **Action Required:** Collaborate with ICMR and DHR to implement and maintain virus surveillance programs and infrastructure.
**Stakeholder: Medical Colleges and Research Institutes**
* **Impact:** Host VRDLs and benefit from upgrades and resources.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the strengthened infrastructure for virus detection, surveillance, and research.
**Stakeholder: General Public**
* **Impact:** Benefits from improved early detection, diagnosis, and research on high-risk pathogens and enhanced preparedness for public health emergencies.
* **Action Required:** Follow public health guidelines and cooperate with surveillance efforts.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for answering the question related to virus detection and surveillance institutes.
Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM): A scheme under which the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has undertaken setting up of Zonal National Institutes of Virology.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): Undertook setting up of Zonal National Institutes of Virology (NIVs) under PM-ABHIM.
Viral Research and Diagnostics Laboratories (VRDL): A network of laboratories used for virus detection and surveillance, strengthened by the Department of Health Research.
Department of Health Research (DHR): The department under which the VRDL scheme is implemented and that has undertaken measures to strengthen virus surveillance, detection and research infrastructure in Kerala.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH RESEARCH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1318
TO BE ANSWERED ON06THFEBRUARY, 2026
ESTABLISHMENTOFVIRUS DETECTIONAND SURVEILLANCE INSTITUTES
1318.SHRIM K RAGHAVAN:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has proposed or approved the establishment of any new national
institute(s) for the detection, surveillance andresearch of viruses, includingfacilities with Bio Safety
Level-4(BSL-4)laboratories, inthe country;
(b) if so, the objectives, functions, institutional structure and funding pattern of the proposed or
approvedinstitute(s);
(c) whether the Government has conducted any assessment or study regarding regional
requirements for virus detection and surveillance institutes, particularly in States that frequently
report outbreaks of diseases such as Nipah virus infection and amoebic meningitis and if so, the
detailsthereof;
(d) whether the Stateof Kerala hasbeenconsidered for establishing anysuch national or regional
virus detection institute, in view of its past experience with emerging and re-emerging viral diseases
inthe country, if so, the detailsthereofandif not,the reasons therefor; and
(e) the steps taken/proposed tobe takenbytheGovernment toensure adequatevirussurveillance,
detectionandresearch infrastructure inthe Stateof Kerala?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a)to(c): Under the Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-
ABHIM), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) hasundertakensetting up of Zonal National
Institutes of Virology (NIVs) at Bengaluru, Jabalpur and Jammu with BSL-3 laboratories, and at
Dibrugarh witha BSL-4laboratory.Settingupof National Institutefor OneHealth(NIOH), Nagpur,
has also been undertaken with BSL-4 and BSL-3 laboratories, including an animal BSL-3 facility.
The upgrading of five Viral Research and Diagnostics Laboratories (VRDLs) into BSL-3 facilities
has also beensupported by ICMR through PM-ABHIM scheme. These initiatives aimto strengthen
capacity for early detection, diagnosis and research on high-risk pathogens, support outbreak
investigations and molecular surveillance, promote a One Health approach, and enhance
preparedness for public healthemergencies.
Under the VRDL scheme of Department of Health Research (DHR), 165 VRDLs have been set upacross 27 States and 5 Union Territories. Through the VRDL network, virus detection and
surveillance activities are continuously carried out, and the resulting inputs are utilized for
strengthening laboratory capacity and for prioritizing locations for augmentation of diagnostic and
surveillance facilities.
The establishment of Zonal NIVs by ICMR and VRDLs in various medical colleges and research
institutes has been undertaken based on the regional requirements for virus detection and
surveillance,research needs aswell asthe proposals receivedfrom State/UTGovernments.
(d) and(e): The Government of India, through the DHR under the VRDL Scheme, has
undertaken measures to strengthen virus surveillance, detection and research infrastructure in
Kerala,includingstrengthening VRDLswith equipment,reagentsandtrainedmanpower; upgrading
laboratories for molecular diagnostics; conducting regular training and capacity-building
programmes; and supporting research on emerging and re-emerging viral diseases of public health
importance.
In order to ensure adequate virus surveillance, detection and research infrastructure in the State of
Kerala inthe State of Kerala,the following VRDLs have beenestablished:
Institution/ Unit Location Type/ Category
Government Medical College Kozhikode Regional Level
National Institute of Virology FieldUnit Alappuzha StateLevel
Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram Medical College
Level
Government Medical College Thrissur Medical College
Level
Government Medical College Kannur Medical College
Level
Government Medical College Manjeri Medical College
Level
Government Medical College Ernakulam Medical College
Level
SreeChitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Thiruvananthapuram Medical College
Sciences& Technology (SCTIMST), Level
ICMR has a field unit of ICMR-NIV in Alappuzha and also supports the State of Kerala through
existing national surveillance and laboratory networks, including access to apex and regional
reference laboratories, genomic surveillance platforms, deployment of Mobile BSL3 and technical
support during outbreak investigations including recent Nipah virus outbreaks, as per national
guidelinesandmechanisms.
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