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In the fight against rising antibiotic resistance among the Indian population, given the overuse and overprescription of antibiotics, the Center has launched an ambitious and accelerated strategy to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – one of the world’s most pressing health threats – by launching the National Action Plan on AMR 2.0 (2025-29).
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda unveiled the updated blueprint on Tuesday, November 18, calling AMR a “major public health concern” that can only be addressed through collective action and warning that overuse and misuse of antibiotics has “unfortunately become common practice.”
For India, one of the largest consumers of antibiotics globally and a country with a significant infectious disease burden, AMR represents both a public health and economic challenge. The second edition of the national plan aims to strengthen coordination between ministries, strengthen surveillance, strengthen infection control in hospitals and build laboratory capacity in states – critical components to slow the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens.
Experts say the scheme aims to reduce the consumption of antibiotics, which could affect the pharma sector’s revenue and manufacturing of antibiotics.
AMR is a major public health and economic risk
The Union Health Minister underlined the scale of the threat during the launch. Describing AMR as a threat that touches many pillars of modern medicine, he highlighted that resistant infections complicate surgical procedures, cancer treatments, organ transplants and critical care interventions. “AMR poses significant risks, particularly in surgical procedures, cancer treatments and other critical health care interventions,” he said.
This is why AMR has been repeatedly flagged by global health agencies as one of the top 10 global health threats, with the economic impact expected to reach trillions of dollars over the next decade if not managed. The threat is heightened in developing countries like India, where high population density, gaps in infection control and easy access to antibiotics promote the rapid spread of resistance.
As Nadda warned, corrective action is no longer optional. “The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has unfortunately become a common practice, underscoring the urgency of corrective measures,” he said.
An agile plan with strong ownership in all areas
The new National Action Plan seeks to address the shortcomings identified during the implementation of the first NAP-AMR (2017-21). While the first edition established a broad framework, the second edition focuses on action plans linked to defined responsibilities, measurable timelines and budgets for each stakeholder ministry.
“NAP-AMR 2.0 addresses the gaps identified in the first NAP by enhancing ownership of AMR-related efforts, strengthening inter-sectoral coordination and ensuring strong engagement with the private sector,” the Health Minister stressed.
The foundation of the plan is rooted in a one health approach – recognizing that AMR spans human health, animal health, agriculture, food production and environmental pollution. The updated plan includes action strategies prepared by more than 20 ministries ranging from fisheries and animal husbandry to agriculture, environment, science and technology, pharmaceuticals, Jal Shakti, AYUSH and education.
Each ministry will now prepare its own implementation roadmap, which includes collaboration with private players, technical bodies, NGOs, professional organizations and international partners.
Key Strategies for AMR Control under NAP-AMR 2.0
The government has identified a set of priority strategies that will guide AMR control over the next four years. These include:
1. Strengthening awareness, education and training
The Minister stressed the need for behavioral change in antibiotic use among both healthcare providers and the public.
“Awareness-raising, education and training is a key strategy for AMR prevention under NAP-AMR 2.0,” he said.
Planning is mandatory:
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Public awareness campaign on media platforms
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AMR modules in medical, veterinary and pharmacy courses
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Continuing education for healthcare workers on rational antibiotic use
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Engagement with private hospitals and physicians, who prescribe a large portion of antibiotics in India
2. Increasing laboratory and monitoring capacity
One of the biggest constraints identified in the first national plan was the limited and uneven microbiology laboratory capacity across states. NAP-AMR 2.0 expands the surveillance network and sets standards for microbiology laboratories with state-level centres.
Strategies include:
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Upgradation of district and medical college laboratories
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Expanding AMR surveillance networks to cover more pathogens and geographic areas
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Investing in quality assurance systems to ensure accuracy in resistance reporting
Improved diagnostics will help reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and improve targeted therapy.
3. Infection prevention and control (IPC) in health care facilities.
Hospitals are hotspots for drug-resistant pathogen transmission. The new scheme emphasizes on stringent and uniform IPC protocols in public and private health facilities.
Implementation goals include:
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Strengthening hospital infection control committees
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Audit of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs
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Training of nurses and clinical staff in IPC guidelines
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Regular monitoring of hospital-acquired infections
4. Strengthening regulatory and supply-side measures
States like Kerala and Gujarat have already banned over-the-counter (OTC) sale of some antibiotics – an important step to prevent misuse. The Center is expected to work with other states to increase compliance.
Parallel measures include:
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Banning antimicrobials and pesticides inappropriate in agriculture
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Regulating antibiotic use in livestock and poultry
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Tracking sales of antiseptics in different regions
5. Promoting research, innovation and technology platforms
India is prioritizing indigenous research to combat emerging resistant pathogens. The India AMR Innovation Hub, built with national and international partners, is expected to play a more central role.
Principal Scientific Advisor Dr. AK Sood highlighted the importance of this platform. To create an innovative technology platform, India AMR Innovation Hub was established, involving both national and international stakeholders. It has helped in mobilizing resources, bringing innovation and enhancing collaboration among multiple stakeholders,” he said.
A global leadership role and timely launch
Dr. Sood noted the importance of launching the updated plan on World AMR Awareness Week (18-24 November), a global observance led by WHO. “NAP-AMR 2.0 is a timely initiative to formulate a more coherent action plan, which is being released on the first day of WHO’s World AMR Awareness Week,” he said.
He said India is one of the global pioneers in AMR policy and emphasized the scale of the challenge: “AMR is like an epidemic that is affecting many countries, especially developing countries in Asia and Africa.”
Why has AMR been highlighted as a major risk?
AMR reduces the effectiveness of antibiotics—a cornerstone of modern medicine. It has a direct impact on:
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Surgical safety, risk of infection after surgery is increasing
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Cancer treatments, where patients’ immune systems are severely weakened
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Organ transplant, where infection control is important
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Intensive care, where resistant pathogens significantly increase mortality
AMR also imposes a heavy economic burden on families and the health care system due to prolonged treatment, expensive last-line antibiotics, and prolonged hospital stays. Economists warn that AMR could push millions of people into poverty by 2050 due to lost productivity and treatment costs.
a renewed commitment
With the participation of the ministries of Fisheries, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Environment, Science and Technology, Education, Jal Shakti, AYUSH and Information and Broadcasting, the government reiterated its united front.
Nadda called for continued engagement: “Regular stakeholder meetings are important to resolve challenges promptly.”
Stakeholders from all sectors reaffirmed their commitment to implement NAP-AMR 2.0 – seen as a critical blueprint for protecting India’s health, food systems and economic resilience against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.