India Records 21% Decline in Tuberculosis Incidence as National TB Elimination Efforts Progress

India has recorded a 21% reduction in the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) between 2015 and 2024, marking significant progress in the country’s efforts to control one of its most serious infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, India’s estimated TB incidence rate declined from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 187 cases per lakh population in 2024. This improvement exceeds the 12% reduction recorded globally during the same period.

News On AIR highlighted the achievement on October 14, 2026, reporting that India’s tuberculosis treatment coverage had increased to 92%, compared with a global average of 78%. The progress reflects sustained efforts to expand screening, improve access to diagnostic technologies, strengthen treatment services and encourage community participation in disease prevention.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has intensified these measures through the National TB Elimination Programme and the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. Together, these initiatives aim to identify undiagnosed cases, provide timely treatment, reduce tuberculosis-related deaths and prevent transmission within communities.

India’s Tuberculosis Incidence Declines Faster Than the Global Average

India’s progress in tuberculosis control is reflected in the steady reduction in the estimated number of new cases relative to its population. The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 places India’s incidence rate at 187 cases per lakh population in 2024, compared with 237 in 2015. This represents a decline of approximately 21% over nine years.

The reduction is particularly significant because India accounts for a substantial share of the global tuberculosis burden. According to the WHO, the country accounted for approximately 25% of estimated tuberculosis cases worldwide in 2024. Improvements in India’s prevention, diagnosis and treatment programmes therefore contribute substantially to international efforts to reduce the disease.

Tuberculosis incidence measures the estimated number of people who develop active tuberculosis during a given period. It differs from the number of cases officially diagnosed and reported by healthcare facilities. Greater screening and improved diagnostic coverage can initially increase reported cases even when the underlying incidence rate is declining.

The reduction in incidence indicates progress in controlling the spread of tuberculosis, although the continuing disease burden requires sustained public-health interventions. India’s large population, differences in healthcare access and the association of tuberculosis with malnutrition and other health conditions make comprehensive prevention and treatment programmes essential.

Tuberculosis Treatment Coverage Increases to 92%

One of the important achievements highlighted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the expansion of tuberculosis treatment coverage. According to the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, India’s estimated treatment coverage increased from 53% in 2015 to 92% in 2024.

Treatment coverage represents the proportion of people estimated to have developed tuberculosis who received diagnosis and treatment. The increase indicates that India’s healthcare system has substantially improved its ability to identify patients and initiate appropriate medical care.

Early diagnosis and treatment are essential because untreated pulmonary tuberculosis can spread through the air when an infectious person coughs, speaks or sings. Prompt identification allows healthcare providers to begin treatment and take measures to reduce transmission.

India’s National TB Elimination Programme supports the provision of free tuberculosis diagnostic and treatment services through the public healthcare system. The programme also engages private healthcare providers to improve case notification, treatment monitoring and continuity of care.

The expansion of treatment coverage has been accompanied by efforts to improve diagnostic infrastructure, extend services to underserved communities and strengthen patient follow-up. These measures help reduce delays between the development of symptoms, diagnosis and the initiation of treatment.

TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Expands Screening Across India

The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has become an important component of India’s tuberculosis-control strategy by expanding screening among populations at greater risk of developing the disease. The intensified campaign, launched in December 2024, focuses on identifying undiagnosed cases, improving treatment access and mobilising community participation.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, more than 28 crore vulnerable individuals had undergone tuberculosis screening under the campaign by July 2026. The screening initiative helped identify patients who might otherwise have remained undiagnosed and continued transmitting the infection.

Government data released in July 2026 indicated that more than 39 lakh tuberculosis patients had been notified since the launch of the intensified campaign. These included approximately 12.93 lakh asymptomatic patients identified through active screening using chest X-rays.

The identification of asymptomatic tuberculosis is important because some people with active disease may not experience the typical symptoms associated with infection. Others may have mild or unrecognised symptoms and therefore delay seeking medical care.

Active screening allows healthcare workers to identify suspected cases before patients develop more advanced illness. Individuals with abnormal screening results can undergo confirmatory testing and receive appropriate treatment when tuberculosis is diagnosed.

The campaign prioritises vulnerable populations and communities where tuberculosis transmission and delayed diagnosis remain important public-health concerns.

Advanced Diagnostic Technologies Improve Early Detection

India has expanded the use of modern diagnostic technologies to strengthen tuberculosis detection and reduce dependence on conventional testing methods.

Chest X-ray screening plays an important role in identifying lung abnormalities that may indicate tuberculosis. When screening suggests possible disease, healthcare providers can use laboratory-based tests to confirm the diagnosis.

The National TB Elimination Programme promotes the use of nucleic acid amplification tests, commonly known as NAATs, for individuals suspected of having tuberculosis. These molecular tests detect genetic material from the bacteria responsible for the disease and can provide results more rapidly than conventional culture methods.

Certain molecular diagnostic platforms can also identify resistance to important tuberculosis medicines, allowing clinicians to select appropriate treatment regimens.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has supported the expansion of molecular diagnostic laboratories to sub-district levels. This decentralisation improves access for patients who previously had to travel considerable distances for specialised testing.

Healthcare facilities are also increasingly using digital tools to improve screening, reporting and patient monitoring. Such technologies can support disease surveillance, identify gaps in service delivery and help healthcare workers track patients throughout treatment.

The combination of expanded screening, molecular diagnostics and improved laboratory networks strengthens the country’s ability to identify tuberculosis earlier and reduce opportunities for transmission.

National TB Elimination Programme Strengthens Healthcare Access

India implements the National TB Elimination Programme under the National Health Mission, integrating tuberculosis prevention and treatment with broader public-health services.

The programme follows a comprehensive approach that includes active case finding, free diagnostic services, appropriate treatment, nutritional support and preventive interventions for individuals at increased risk.

Healthcare services have been decentralised to improve access at the community level. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other primary healthcare facilities play an important role in screening, referral and follow-up care.

This approach allows patients to access essential services closer to their homes, particularly in rural and underserved areas where travel expenses and limited healthcare infrastructure can delay diagnosis.

The programme also works with private healthcare providers to strengthen tuberculosis case notification and treatment monitoring. Private-sector participation is important because many patients initially seek medical care outside government hospitals and clinics.

Reporting diagnosed cases through the national surveillance system helps public-health authorities monitor disease patterns, assess treatment outcomes and identify communities requiring additional interventions.

The programme also promotes state- and district-specific strategies to address differences in tuberculosis burden, healthcare access and local risk factors.

TB Preventive Treatment Helps Reduce Future Infections

Preventing tuberculosis among people at increased risk is another important component of India’s national strategy.

Tuberculosis infection can remain dormant in the body without causing active disease. This condition, commonly called latent TB infection, does not produce symptoms and is not contagious. However, some individuals with tuberculosis infection may develop active disease later, particularly when their immune system becomes weakened.

TB Preventive Treatment is designed to reduce the likelihood of active disease among eligible individuals who have tuberculosis infection or significant exposure risks, after active tuberculosis has been excluded.

The National TB Elimination Programme provides preventive treatment to eligible household contacts of tuberculosis patients and other vulnerable groups according to national clinical guidelines.

News On AIR reported on October 14, 2026, that more than 20 lakh individuals had received TB Preventive Treatment under the government’s intensified efforts.

Preventive treatment is particularly important for young children exposed to infectious tuberculosis and individuals with medical conditions that increase their risk of progressing to active disease.

By combining preventive treatment with early diagnosis and appropriate management of active cases, the programme seeks to reduce the number of new infections and strengthen long-term disease control.

Ni-kshay Mitras Support Nutrition and Patient Recovery

Nutritional support has become an important element of India’s tuberculosis elimination strategy because undernutrition can increase susceptibility to the disease and complicate recovery.

Tuberculosis can cause weight loss, weakness and nutritional deficiencies. Patients undergoing treatment may require additional nutritional assistance to support recovery and maintain their ability to complete the prescribed course of medication.

The government has encouraged community participation through the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative, which allows individuals, institutions, businesses and voluntary organisations to support tuberculosis patients.

Ni-kshay Mitras contribute through nutritional assistance and other forms of patient support, complementing the medical services provided under the National TB Elimination Programme.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, more than 5.7 lakh Ni-kshay Mitras had registered under the initiative by July 2026. The volunteers and participating organisations had distributed approximately 38.9 lakh nutrition baskets to tuberculosis patients.

These interventions help address some of the socioeconomic difficulties associated with tuberculosis, particularly among patients from financially vulnerable households.

The programme also promotes differentiated care, which allows healthcare providers to identify patients requiring additional clinical attention and support based on their individual risk factors.

By connecting medical treatment with nutritional and community assistance, India’s tuberculosis-control strategy addresses both the disease and some of the circumstances that can affect treatment adherence and recovery.

JOSH Campaign Mobilises Youth for Tuberculosis Awareness

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced the Joint Squad for Health, known as JOSH, to strengthen community participation in tuberculosis prevention and early detection.

News On AIR reported that the campaign conducted a pilot outreach initiative on October 13, 2026, across 55 districts in 11 states.

The initiative brings together MY Bharat volunteers, National Cadet Corps cadets and government officials to promote tuberculosis awareness, encourage early diagnosis and reduce the social stigma associated with the disease.

Young volunteers can play an important role in reaching households, educational institutions and communities where awareness of tuberculosis symptoms and available treatment services remains limited.

Community outreach programmes help explain the importance of seeking medical attention for persistent cough, fever, unexplained weight loss, night sweats and other symptoms associated with tuberculosis.

The campaign also seeks to counter misconceptions that discourage patients from discussing their illness or accessing healthcare services.

Tuberculosis is a treatable infectious disease, and individuals receiving appropriate medical care can recover. Encouraging early diagnosis and supporting patients throughout treatment are essential for improving health outcomes and preventing transmission.

The participation of young volunteers, educational institutions and community organisations can help extend tuberculosis awareness beyond conventional healthcare facilities.

New Treatment Regimens Improve Care for Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

Drug-resistant tuberculosis remains an important challenge for India’s tuberculosis-control programme because some strains of the bacteria do not respond to commonly used medicines.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis generally refers to disease caused by bacteria resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, two important first-line tuberculosis medicines.

Treating drug-resistant tuberculosis can be more complex than treating drug-susceptible disease and requires specialised medicines, careful monitoring and adherence to an appropriate treatment regimen.

India has introduced the six-month BPaLM regimen for eligible patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The regimen combines bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid and moxifloxacin. It represents an important development because selected patients can receive a substantially shorter course of treatment than required under older regimens.

Shorter, effective treatment approaches can reduce the burden of prolonged therapy and improve convenience for patients. However, suitability must be determined by qualified healthcare professionals according to resistance patterns, clinical conditions and national treatment guidelines.

The availability of newer treatment approaches, combined with improved molecular testing, strengthens India’s capacity to manage drug-resistant tuberculosis and reduce the complications associated with delayed or ineffective treatment.

Community Participation Remains Central to Tuberculosis Elimination

India’s tuberculosis-control strategy increasingly combines medical services with coordinated participation from government institutions, civil society, educational organisations and local communities.

In July 2026, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda chaired an inter-ministerial meeting involving the Ministries of Youth Affairs and Sports, Labour and Employment, and Defence to strengthen support for the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

The discussions focused on using existing institutional networks to expand awareness, screening and patient assistance.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports was encouraged to increase participation by MY Bharat volunteers and NCC cadets, while the Ministry of Defence was asked to support community outreach through defence personnel and cadet networks.

The meeting also examined opportunities to strengthen tuberculosis screening in workplaces, particularly sectors involving workers who may face occupational and socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

Industries such as mining, construction, textiles and transport were identified as areas where workplace-based screening and awareness programmes could help improve access to tuberculosis services.

Coordinated participation by employers, healthcare institutions, community organisations and government departments can improve the identification of vulnerable individuals and support continuity of treatment.

These efforts reflect an approach in which tuberculosis prevention becomes a shared public-health responsibility rather than a task limited to hospitals and specialised disease-control institutions.

India’s Progress Contributes to Global Tuberculosis Control

India’s decline in tuberculosis incidence has implications beyond its national healthcare system because of the country’s substantial share of the global disease burden.

The WHO estimated that approximately 10.7 million people developed tuberculosis worldwide in 2024. India accounted for approximately one-quarter of these cases, underscoring the importance of its national tuberculosis programme to international disease-control efforts.

The country’s 21% reduction in incidence between 2015 and 2024 compares favourably with the 12% global reduction reported for the same period.

At the same time, tuberculosis remains a major public-health challenge, and continued reductions will require sustained efforts to address transmission, undernutrition, delayed diagnosis and drug resistance.

The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic also demonstrated how disruptions to healthcare services can affect tuberculosis detection and treatment.

Maintaining accessible diagnostic facilities, reliable medicine supplies, effective patient monitoring and community support is therefore essential for sustaining progress.

India’s expanding use of molecular diagnostics, active screening, preventive treatment and community-based assistance provides important foundations for reducing the disease burden further.

India Advances Towards a TB-Free Future

The reduction in tuberculosis incidence from 237 to 187 cases per lakh population between 2015 and 2024 represents measurable progress in India’s national disease-control efforts.

The expansion of treatment coverage from 53% to 92% demonstrates improvements in identifying patients and connecting them with appropriate medical care. At the same time, the screening of more than 28 crore vulnerable individuals under the intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan reflects the scale of India’s efforts to detect infections earlier.

Modern diagnostic technologies, preventive treatment, shorter regimens for eligible drug-resistant patients and nutritional assistance through Ni-kshay Mitras have strengthened different components of the country’s tuberculosis response.

Community initiatives such as JOSH are also helping extend awareness and healthcare outreach through youth participation and cooperation among government departments.

Although tuberculosis elimination remains a substantial challenge, India’s progress demonstrates the benefits of sustained public-health investment, technological advancement and community participation.

Continued expansion of accessible diagnostics, effective treatment, nutritional support and preventive healthcare will strengthen India’s ability to reduce tuberculosis transmission, protect vulnerable populations and advance towards its goal of a TB-Mukt Bharat.

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References

1. News On AIR — October 14, 2026.
India Records 21% Decline in New TB Cases Between 2015 and 2024.
https://newsonair.gov.in/india-records-21-decline-in-new-tb-cases-between-2015-and-2024/

2. Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — December 12, 2025.
Update on TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: WHO Global TB Report 2025 Notes 21% Decline in India’s TB Incidence Rate Since 2015.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2203004

3. Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — July 7, 2026.
Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda Chairs High-Level Meeting with Ministries of Youth Affairs and Sports, Labour and Employment, and Defence to Strengthen Support for TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2281989

4. World Health Organization — November 12, 2025.
Global Tuberculosis Report 2025.
https://www.who.int/teams/global-programme-on-tuberculosis-and-lung-health/tb-reports/global-tuberculosis-report-2025/

5. World Health Organization — Global Tuberculosis Report 2025.
TB Disease Burden: Tuberculosis Incidence.
https://www.who.int/teams/global-programme-on-tuberculosis-and-lung-health/tb-reports/global-tuberculosis-report-2025/tb-disease-burden/1-1-tb-incidence

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