"India's Strategic Stakes in the WHO Pandemic Agreement"
One Health
an approach linking human, animal and environmental health to prevent disease spillover.
Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS)
a system for sharing pathogen data and fairly distributing resulting vaccines.
Global rules for pandemics have long relied on the WHO's International Health Regulations (IHR), adopted in 2005. These rules are advisory in nature. This means countries are urged, not legally forced, to follow them. The Covid-19 pandemic showed this weakness. Rich countries bought most vaccine supplies early. Poorer countries waited for doses. This gap pushed member-states to negotiate a stronger, legally binding instrument. In September 2026, India placed its official remarks on the Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response (PPPR) at the UN High-Level Meeting (UN HLM) in New York.
At the centre of this new regime is the Pandemic Agreement (PA). The PA was adopted by 124 member-states in 2025, with no country voting against it. Eleven countries abstained. This broad support, spanning rich and poor nations, is rare. Negotiators clashed on three questions. Can binding targets for 'One Health' be set without guaranteed funding? One Health links human, animal and environmental health. Can global rules override national pandemic laws? Must private vaccine makers share doses in real time at fair prices?
The PA is not yet open for ratification because talks continue on the PABS annex. PABS stands for Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing. It is meant to guarantee poorer countries a fair share of vaccines and medicines. This happens whenever a new pathogen (disease-causing organism) is identified. Even without ratification, the PA has already created a first-of-its-kind global legal structure. This structure covers pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. Countries like India must now help put this structure into practice.
India's position at the UN HLM rested on two linked ideas. The first is equitable access to drugs, vaccines, therapeutics and shared digital health infrastructure. These are described as global public goods. This means benefits available to all countries without reducing what others get. The second is respect for national sovereignty. This means a country's right to make its own decisions. Member-states, not the WHO, remain the primary decision-makers. They decide how global rules apply at home. India balanced two principles: equitable access to global public goods and respect for national sovereignty. This balance let India find common ground with both the Global North and the Global South. …
Critically examine the role of the WHO in providing global health security during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Consider the following statements regarding the WHO Pandemic Agreement (PA):
1.It was adopted in 2025 with every voting member-state in favour.
2.It has entered into force after being ratified by the required number of countries.
3.Its Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex is still under negotiation.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Consider the following statements about the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system:
1.It is designed to ensure low- and middle-income countries receive a fair share of vaccines and therapeutics during a pandemic.
2.It has already been finalised and made operational under the WHO Pandemic Agreement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements regarding India's position in global vaccine manufacturing:
1.India is one of the largest manufacturers of vaccines in the world by volume.
2.India is self-sufficient in the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) used in its medicines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to India's global health diplomacy, consider the following statements:
1.India launched the Global Initiative for Digital Health during its G20 presidency.
2.The H20 Summit is a health and development partnership spanning G7 and G20 countries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Match List I (Agreement/Framework) with List II (Year of Adoption) and select the correct answer using the codes below:
List I:
A.WHO Pandemic Agreement
B.International Health Regulations
C.Millennium Development Goals
D.Sustainable Development Goals
List II:
1.2000
2.2005
3.2015
4.2025
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