India’s Progress in Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination

Tuberculosis (TB) Latest News

• According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2026, India has recorded a 38% reduction in TB-related mortality between 2015 and 2025, compared with a global reduction of 35%. 
• Despite this progress, India remains the country with the highest TB burden, accounting for 25% of global TB cases in 2025.
• The report acknowledges India’s progress in reducing mortality, improving treatment outcomes and strengthening domestic financing, while highlighting the continuing challenge of high disease incidence.

Global and India’s TB Burden

• An estimated 10.6 million people developed TB globally in 2025, around 75,000 fewer than in 2024.
• The global TB incidence rate declined from 131 cases per lakh population in 2024 to 129 in 2025.
• The global incidence reduction since 2015 was 14%, significantly below the End TB Strategy milestone of 50% by 2025 and the target of 80% by 2030.
• TB remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and ranks 13th among all causes of death globally.
• Top eight countries contributing to global TB cases (2025): India (25% share of global cases), Indonesia (10%), Philippines (6.8%), China (6.5%), Pakistan (6.4%), Nigeria (4.9%), DR Congo (3.9%), and Bangladesh (3.7%).
• These eight countries account for approximately 67% of global TB cases, while 30 high-burden countries together account for 88%.
• Demographic distribution: Globally, 54% of people developing TB in 2025 were men, 35% women and 11% children.

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India’s Progress in TB Control

• Declining mortality: Estimated TB deaths declined from 28 per lakh population in 2015 to 18 per lakh in 2025, representing a 38% reduction.
• Treatment success: India achieved a treatment success rate of 94%, reflecting improvements in treatment delivery and patient support.
• Domestic financing: Around 96% of TB programme funding requirements are met through domestic resources, demonstrating sustained national investment.
• Declining MDR-TB: India remains among four countries accounting for more than 50% of global multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB cases, although MDR-TB incidence has been gradually declining.
• Data revision under consideration: The WHO, India’s Central TB Division and ICMR are analysing district-level sentinel surveillance data and findings from the nationally representative TB prevalence survey conducted by ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT) in 2025. 

Government Initiatives for TB Elimination

• The progress reflects interventions under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), supported by technology, early diagnosis, treatment and community participation.
• TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan:
  • Launched as an intensified campaign on December 7, 2024, covering 347 high-priority districts across 33 States and UTs, and subsequently expanding nationwide.
• Achievements (2024 – Nov 2026):
  • More than 11 crore chest X-rays conducted.
  • Over 3 crore nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT) conducted.
  • Approximately 48.64 lakh TB cases detected, including 14.97 lakh asymptomatic cases.
• Significance: Detection of asymptomatic cases enables early treatment, reduces transmission and prevents progression to severe disease.
• Technology-enabled TB Management:
  • AI-enabled chest X-rays: Improve screening and early identification.
  • AI-based hotspot identification: Helps identify geographical areas with high TB vulnerability.
  • Predictive AI tools: Identify high-risk patients prone to adverse treatment outcomes.
  • Digital interventions: Khushi AI Chatbot and Avatar Videobot support awareness and patient engagement.
  • Rapid molecular diagnostics: Enable faster and more accurate detection.
• Nutritional and Community Support:
  • Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: Provides nutritional assistance to TB patients.
  • Ni-kshay Mitra initiative: Encourages community participation and nutritional support through individual and institutional donors.
  • Integration of TB screening with diabetes, undernutrition and other comorbidities facilitates comprehensive and differentiated patient care.

Challenges in Achieving TB Elimination

• High disease burden: India continues to account for one-fourth of global TB cases.
• Detection gaps: Asymptomatic and undiagnosed cases contribute to continued transmission.
• Drug resistance: MDR-TB remains a significant public health challenge.
• Socio-economic determinants: Undernutrition, poverty, overcrowding and poor living conditions increase vulnerability.
• Global progress deficit: The worldwide decline in TB incidence remains far below the End TB Strategy targets.
• Data uncertainties: Revision of India’s incidence estimates highlights the need for stronger surveillance and reliable disease-burden assessment.

Way Forward

• Strengthen proactive screening, particularly among vulnerable and high-risk populations.
• Expand access to rapid molecular diagnostics and AI-enabled screening.
• Ensure early treatment initiation, adherence and patient-centred care.
• Strengthen TB preventive treatment and management of drug-resistant TB.
• Integrate TB control with nutrition, diabetes management and poverty alleviation programmes.
• Increase community participation and awareness to reduce stigma and encourage early diagnosis.
• Sustain domestic financing, research and evidence-based policymaking.

Conclusion

• India’s substantial share of global TB cases underscores the need to move beyond mortality reduction towards accelerated prevention, early detection and interruption of transmission. 
• A technology-driven, adequately financed and community-centred approach remains essential to achieving the goal of a TB-Mukt Bharat.

Source: IE | BS