Fish production in India has shown an impressive average annual growth of about 8% during the last four decades. The country is the third-largest fish-producing country and one of the largest exporters of shrimps. However, a recent study indicates huge economic losses due to shrimp diseases. This highlights the significant threat of diseases to the growth of aquaculture. Early detection is considered crucial for controlling the spread of diseases, and this is outlined in ‘The Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009’. To fulfil the spirit of the Act, the Government of India initiated a National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) in 2013 with the objectives of improving the collection of information on aquatic animal diseases, rapidly detecting new and exotic diseases, and meeting international disease reporting obligations. Currently, the programme is being implemented through 32 Collaborating Centres, State Fisheries Departments and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), and is coordinated by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow. The major emphasis of NSPAAD has been to strengthen the passive surveillance system and undertake need-based active surveillance. The strengthening of passive disease surveillance is evident in the first time report of thirteen new diseases from the country. The active surveillance carried out under programme allows us to state that three major pathogens of finfish, i.e. spring viremia of carp virus, infectious pancreatic necrosis virus and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus, and three shrimp pathogens, namely, yellow head virus genotype 1, Taura syndrome virus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus AHPND strain in shrimp, have not been detected in India and provides transparent scientific evidence for this. Notably, NSPAAD has made a significant impact in terms of developing a network of aquatic animal health laboratories, enhancing diagnostic capability for aquatic animal pathogens, issuing alerts to stakeholders following the detection of new diseases and providing scientific advice to farmers. Currently, the Government of India is strengthening the disease surveillance programme, which would have a major impact on reducing disease losses and assist in the sustainable growth of the aquaculture sector in the country.