Authorities imposed a cattle quarantine in part of the Chuvashia region in the Volga area, more than 2,500 km (1,500 miles) west of Siberia’s Novosibirsk region, where a state of emergency has been declared following reported outbreaks.

The outbreaks have been reported in multiple regions, including areas bordering China, raising concerns about the geographic spread of the disease and potential cross-border implications.

Officials have responded with containment measures, including movement restrictions and livestock culls aimed at preventing further transmission. The scale of the response reflects concerns over the potential economic and agricultural impact.

Farmers and some scientists have raised concerns about the accuracy of the official diagnosis, questioning whether the diseases affecting cattle have been correctly identified as pasteurellosis or rabies.

They have pointed to inconsistencies in symptoms and the speed of transmission, according to industry sources, prompting calls for further investigation and independent verification.

A government commission has been dispatched to one of the affected regions to assess the situation, officials said, as authorities seek to contain the outbreak and address concerns raised by stakeholders.

Russia’s livestock sector plays a significant role in domestic food supply, and outbreaks of infectious diseases can disrupt production, trade and rural livelihoods.

The parks will be developed through joint ventures involving state governments and a state-run company, Vaishnaw told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

Industry Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia said the government expects to develop about 33,000 acres of land for manufacturing over a period of six years.

The planned industrial parks will range in size from 100 acres to 1,000 acres, equivalent to about 40.5 hectares to 404.7 hectares, he said. The government will provide financial support of up to 10 million rupees per acre for core and social infrastructure within the parks.

Officials said the initiative is aimed at creating integrated manufacturing zones with necessary facilities to support industrial activity.

The programme reflects India’s ongoing efforts to expand its manufacturing base through infrastructure development and coordination with state governments.

The use of joint ventures is expected to facilitate land acquisition and project implementation, while financial assistance is intended to reduce upfront costs for infrastructure development.

Separately, the cabinet approved 117 billion rupees for minimum support prices for cotton purchases, according to government officials.

The allocation is intended to support procurement operations under existing price support mechanisms.

Sitharaman said the proposed fund would help the government address disruptions such as supply chain interruptions and sudden economic stresses while maintaining stability in public finances.

The stabilisation fund is intended to provide the government with additional fiscal headroom during periods of volatility in global markets or trade flows, Sitharaman told lawmakers.The proposal comes as the government seeks parliamentary approval for gross additional spending of 2.81 trillion rupees.

According to Sitharaman, part of the additional expenditure will be offset by savings and higher receipts from various ministries and departments.She said the proposed spending adjustments would not increase the government’s overall expenditure beyond the levels outlined in the federal budget.

Sitharaman also proposed additional fertiliser subsidies amounting to about 192.30 billion rupees to cover higher spending under the nutrient-based subsidy policy and payments for urea subsidies.

India’s fertiliser subsidy bill has come under pressure following disruptions to supply routes linked to tensions involving Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global fertiliser shipments.

The disruption has pushed up prices for crop nutrients such as urea and ammonia, increasing import costs for major buyers including India.

Sitharaman said the government would ensure there was no shortfall in funds for fertiliser subsidies for farmers.