India’s Accelerated Progress Against Tuberculosis

India’s Rapid Decline in TB Burden

India’s Accelerated Progress Against Tuberculosis: India has recorded a significant drop in tuberculosis incidence, marking one of its strongest public health achievements in recent years. The WHO Global TB Report 2025 confirms a 21% reduction in TB cases since 2015, nearly double the global decline. This trend strengthens India’s vision of achieving a TB-Mukt Bharat ahead of global timelines. Static GK fact: WHO publishes its Global TB Report annually to track global and national trends.

Strong Improvements in Key Indicators

The country has reduced TB incidence from 237 to 187 per lakh between 2015 and 2024. Mortality in HIV-negative TB cases has also fallen from 28 to 21 per lakh, reflecting better access to care. Treatment coverage has improved to 92%, placing India among the best-performing high-burden nations. Missing TB cases have sharply reduced, signalling stronger detection systems nationwide.

National Efforts Driving Progress

The launch of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan in December 2024 created strong momentum for early screening and rapid diagnosis. Over 19 crore people were screened, helping identify 24.5 lakh TB patients, including a large number of asymptomatic cases. Advanced tools like AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices and expanded NAAT testing have made diagnosis faster and more accurate. Static GK Tip: NAAT stands for Nucleic Acid Amplification Test, widely used in TB detection.

Expansion of Public Health Investment

India’s TB programme budget has increased almost tenfold in nine years, strengthening laboratory capacity and digital health support. Under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, more than ₹4,406 crore has been transferred to patients to support nutrition needs during treatment. A network of 6.77 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras and thousands of youth volunteers has distributed 45 lakh nutrition baskets, boosting community participation.

Leadership in Global Diagnostics

India now operates the world’s largest TB diagnostics network, featuring 9,391 molecular testing centres, 107 drug susceptibility labs, and hundreds of AI-based X-ray units. With services decentralised across 1.78 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, TB testing and treatment have become more accessible. Static GK fact: Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are part of India’s primary healthcare strengthening under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Personalized and Differentiated TB Care

Individualized treatment plans have been introduced for high-risk patients based on comorbidities, clinical severity, and socio-economic factors. ASHA workers are being trained to detect early symptoms and guide patients toward timely care. This approach improves patient compliance and strengthens treatment success rates across districts.

India’s Milestones in TB Control

India’s treatment success rate has climbed to 90%, surpassing the global average. Over 26.18 lakh TB patients were diagnosed in 2024 alone, supported by the rise in early detection efforts. Increasing the monthly DBT support under Ni-kshay Poshan from ₹500 to ₹1,000 has also encouraged better nutrition and recovery outcomes. These combined efforts mark India as a global leader in driving impactful TB elimination strategies.

Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table

India’s Accelerated Progress Against Tuberculosis: