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India has recorded a significant 21% decline in tuberculosis (TB) incidence from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh population in 2024 – almost double the global decline rate of 12%, according to the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2025. This is one of the sharpest declines globally and puts India ahead of many other high-burden countries in TB control and elimination efforts.
The report also said India has achieved greater reductions in TB mortality than the global average, with deaths among HIV-negative individuals falling from 28 per lakh in 2015 to 21 per lakh in 2024. This progress reflects sustained political commitment, rapid technology adoption and large-scale community participation to strengthen TB care and prevention systems across the country.
Treatment coverage and success rates have improved significantly
India’s treatment coverage is set to rapidly increase to 92% in 2024, putting the country ahead of other high-burden countries and global universal health coverage benchmarks. In 2024, 26.18 lakh TB patients were diagnosed out of an estimated 27 lakh new cases, reducing the number of “missing cases” – those who had TB but were not reported to the program – from 15 lakh in 2015 to less than a lakh in 2024.
Under the TB Free India campaign, India’s treatment success rate has increased to 90% compared to the global success rate of 88%. There has also been no significant increase in the number of multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB patients in the country.
Technological advances and case-finding strategies
The TB Free India campaign, launched in December 2024, has adopted several innovative tools and approaches to accelerate TB elimination. New technologies such as hand-held X-ray devices with AI-enabled reporting, expanded NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) infrastructure and extensive community mobilization efforts focusing on vulnerable populations have significantly improved case detection.
Through these initiatives, the program has screened more than 19 crore individuals and diagnosed 24.5 lakh TB patients, including 8.61 lakh asymptomatic TB cases. This approach has helped identify sub-clinical TB cases that would otherwise have gone undiagnosed.
India’s commitment to early detection is supported by the world’s largest TB laboratory network, comprising 9,391 rapid molecular testing facilities and 107 culture and drug susceptibility testing laboratories. To support community-level screening, more than 500 AI-enabled hand-operated chest X-ray units have been deployed across the country, with an additional 1,500 machines distributed to states and union territories.
Additionally, through 1.78 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs established across the country, the TB program has been able to decentralize services and bring TB care closer to communities, ensuring better access to testing and treatment at the grassroots level.
Financial assistance and nutritional support strengthened
Government funding for India’s TB program has seen a tenfold increase over the past nine years, helping the introduction of innovative preventive interventions, diagnostic tools, treatment regimens and social support provisions.
Under the Ni-Ksay Poshan Yojana, nutritional support for TB patients has been significantly expanded. The scheme provides a direct benefit transfer (DBT) of ₹1,000 per patient per month during the treatment period. Since its launch in April 2018, over ₹4,406 crore has been paid directly into the bank accounts of 1.37 crore beneficiaries.
Additionally, 6,77,541 individuals and organizations have enrolled as Ni-Kshay Mitras, who are collectively distributing over 45 lakh food baskets to TB patients. This reflects the strong collaboration between government, private sector and community stakeholders in supporting individuals affected by TB.
Community and youth participation in TB eradication
India’s TB elimination campaign has also been strengthened through broader community involvement and youth participation. Under the My Bharat initiative, more than two lakh youth volunteers have joined the fight against TB by serving as Ni-Kshay Mitras and providing psychosocial support and encouragement to TB patients.
This large-scale participation has ensured that the TB Free India campaign grows into a whole-of-society movement that emphasizes the principle that no patient should feel isolated or unsupported during treatment and recovery.
Tailored TB care and early intervention
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced a differentiated TB care approach across the country to ensure personalized treatment for high-risk patients. Those with co-morbidities or clinical indicators that may impact treatment outcomes are identified early and provided with individualized, tailored treatment plans.
ASHA workers have been trained to identify early warning signs among TB patients in their areas and promptly refer them to higher health facilities, strengthening early intervention and reducing the risk of complications.
Looking ahead: Towards a TB-free India
Going forward, the TB-free India campaign will continue to focus on active screening of all vulnerable populations, including asymptomatic individuals and those living in congregate settings, using hand-held X-rays and molecular diagnostics for early detection.
The programme’s integrated approach – combining high-quality treatment, nutritional support and psychosocial care – aims to ensure full recovery and prevent community transmission.
Through sustained government investment, technological expansion and public participation, India is rapidly moving towards its goal of achieving a TB-free India, demonstrating that large-scale eradication of tuberculosis is possible and underway.