India has introduced a mandatory digital health declaration for all international passengers arriving in the country as authorities step up surveillance in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in central Africa. The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Air Suvidha 2.0 on 25 June, requiring every traveller flying into India—regardless of their country of departure—to complete an online health self-declaration before boarding.The measure follows the World Health Organization's (WHO) decision to classify the Ebola outbreak affecting parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Indian authorities say the upgraded platform will strengthen airport screening while ensuring
the arrival process remains largely contactless.Officials added that the portal has been integrated with airport health authorities, immigration officials and state surveillance teams, enabling real-time risk assessment of incoming passengers before they land.
What Is Air Suvidha 2.0 And What Must Travellers Declare?
Under the new rules, every international passenger travelling to India must complete the Air Suvidha 2.0 health declaration online within 24 hours before the journey begins. Authorities recommend filling out the form during web check-in to avoid delays upon arrival.The digital declaration asks passengers to provide details of their travel history over the previous 21 days, disclose whether they have visited or transited through Ebola-affected regions, and report symptoms commonly associated with the disease, including fever, body aches and unexplained bleeding.Once submitted, passengers can download the completed declaration and present it at the International Travel Health Desk or immigration checkpoint after landing. Since the information is transmitted digitally, travellers are no longer required to complete paper-based health forms at the airport.The integrated system allows airport health officers to identify passengers who may require secondary medical screening before they enter the country.
Why India Introduced The New Rules
The new health declaration requirement comes after the WHO declared the ongoing Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda a global public health emergency on 17 May 2026.Health authorities have identified the outbreak as Bundibugyo virus disease, a relatively rare strain of Ebola for which no approved vaccine or specific treatment currently exists. Neighbouring countries, including South Sudan, have also been identified as being at heightened risk of cross-border transmission.According to Indian aviation authorities and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), Air Suvidha 2.0 has been introduced to strengthen disease surveillance without disrupting international travel. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently described the situation as serious but manageable, saying, "The outbreak is moving fast, and we are still playing catch-up. We need to stop the outbreak where it is, support countries that are responding today, and ensure that neighbouring countries are ready to detect and act quickly if cases appear."The WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) have jointly committed $518 million over the next six months to strengthen laboratory testing, surveillance and infection-control measures across affected regions.
What International Travellers Should Do
Passengers travelling to India should complete the Air Suvidha 2.0 self-declaration through the official portal within 24 hours before departure and carry a downloaded copy when travelling. Travellers who have recently visited or transited through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan should expect additional health screening upon arrival at Indian airports.Authorities have emphasised that the measure is precautionary and forms part of India's broader strategy to strengthen border health surveillance while facilitating safe international travel amid the evolving Ebola situation.
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