What Happened
- Tuberculosis (TB) remains India's largest single infectious disease killer, even as the country's mass screening programme under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is showing measurable results.
- Since the mass screening push began in December 2024, over 20 crore (200 million) vulnerable individuals have been screened, with more than 28 lakh (2.8 million) new TB patients diagnosed.
- India's new TB case notifications reached a record 26.07 lakh in 2024, reflecting improved detection rather than worsening burden — a sign the surveillance system is functioning.
- TB incidence in India declined by 21% between 2015 and 2024 (WHO Global TB Report 2025), with TB deaths declining by 28% in the same period — double the global average rate of decline.
- Over 46,000 Gram Panchayats have been certified as TB-free for 2024, indicating community-level success in certain geographies.
Static Topic Bridges
National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) — Framework and Strategy
India renamed its Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) as the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) in 2020 to reflect the ambitious goal of eliminating TB by 2025 — five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal target of 2030. Elimination is defined as fewer than 1 case per 1 lakh population. The NTEP operates under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is guided by the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017–2025, built on four pillars: Detect–Treat–Prevent–Build (DTPB).
- Target: TB elimination by 2025 (India-specific target), compared to global SDG target of 2030
- India's current TB incidence rate (2023): approximately 195 per 1 lakh population — still far from the elimination threshold of <1 per lakh
- Record case notifications: 25.5 lakh (2023), 26.07 lakh (2024) — high notification reflects improved detection, not necessarily higher burden
- Infrastructure: 1,84,726 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, 9,800+ rapid molecular testing (CBNAAT/TrueNAT) facilities, 107 culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST) laboratories — the world's largest TB diagnostic network
- India accounts for approximately 26–27% of the global TB burden (WHO TB Report 2025)
Connection to this news: Despite being the largest infectious disease programme in India, TB elimination by 2025 remains aspirational — the mass screening initiative is the latest operational intensification to close the detection gap and accelerate case finding.
Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA)
Launched by President Droupadi Murmu on September 9, 2022, the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is a community-mobilisation component of NTEP that leverages corporate social responsibility (CSR), community participation, and institutional adoption of TB patients. It operates on the concept of "Ni-kshay Mitras" — voluntary supporters (individuals, corporates, NGOs, elected representatives) who adopt TB patients and provide additional nutritional, diagnostic, and vocational support.
- Launch: September 9, 2022 (by the President of India, not the Prime Minister — signifying its national importance as a presidential initiative)
- Ni-kshay Mitra: Donors who pledge nutritional support (food baskets, nutritional supplements) to registered TB patients
- Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY): A separate scheme that provides ₹1,000 per month directly to notified TB patients' bank accounts for nutritional support (earlier it was ₹500/month; revised upward); since 2018, ₹4,454 crore disbursed to 1.38 crore beneficiaries
- TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (launched December 7, 2024): Targeted mass screening campaign for vulnerable populations — over 20 crore screened, 28 lakh new patients identified
- 46,118 Gram Panchayats awarded TB-free certification for 2024
Connection to this news: The mass screening campaign that produced the headline finding of 20 crore people screened is the operational arm of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, demonstrating scale and reach through the public health infrastructure.
TB Disease — Classification, Detection, and Drug Resistance
Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting the lungs (pulmonary TB) but capable of affecting any organ (extra-pulmonary TB). India faces a significant drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) challenge, including Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB, resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin) and Extensively Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB). Early detection tools deployed at scale include TrueNAT and CBNAAT (Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) — molecular diagnostics that give results in 2 hours and also detect rifampicin resistance.
- Transmission: airborne (droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis)
- Standard treatment: 6-month regimen (2 months HRZE + 4 months HR) for drug-sensitive TB
- MDR-TB treatment: 18–24 months (longer, more toxic regimens); XDR-TB even more difficult
- Bedaquiline and Delamanid: newer drugs introduced under NTEP for DR-TB treatment
- India is one of the 30 high TB burden countries listed by WHO
- The Global Fund (The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria) provides significant international funding support to India's NTEP
Connection to this news: The mass screening initiative is designed to find the "missing millions" — TB patients who are ill but undiagnosed. Early detection prevents transmission and prevents progression to drug-resistant forms.
Key Facts & Data
- India's TB incidence decline: 21% from 2015–2024 (WHO); TB deaths decline: 28%
- Mass screening (since Dec 7, 2024): 20 crore+ screened; 28 lakh+ TB patients diagnosed
- TB-free Gram Panchayats certified for 2024: 46,118
- Nikshay Poshan Yojana: ₹1,000/month per patient; ₹4,454 crore disbursed since 2018 to 1.38 crore beneficiaries
- India's TB burden: ~26–27% of global TB cases
- India's TB elimination target: 2025 (global SDG target: 2030)
- Elimination defined as: fewer than 1 TB case per 1 lakh population
- Rapid molecular testing facilities: 9,800+ across India (TrueNAT, CBNAAT)
- DST laboratories: 107 (world's largest national network)
- World TB Day: March 24 (annually)