India's Tuberculosis Elimination Progress Report
India has achieved significant milestones in its fight against tuberculosis, with yearly emerging cases declining by 21% between 2015 and 2024, compared to the global decline of 12%. The country's treatment coverage stands at 92% versus the global coverage of 78%, while TB-related deaths reduced by 28% during the same period. This progress positions India as one of the fastest-declining TB incidence nations among high-burden countries.
National Programs and Initiatives
The National TB Elimination Program (NTEP), formerly known as the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program, operates on four pillars: Detect, Treat, Prevent, and Build. Key activities include early diagnosis through high-quality testing, prompt treatment with quality-assured drugs, private sector engagement, patient-centric support through direct benefit transfer, contact tracing, and multi-sectoral response for addressing social determinants.
The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, launched on September 9, 2022, has achieved substantial results: cumulative screenings crossed 28.1 crore people, over 20 lakh individuals received TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), 5.7 lakh new Nikshay Mitras were added, and 46,118 Gram Panchayats received TB-free certification. The 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan launched on December 7, 2024, covered 347 high-priority districts across 33 States/UTs, involving over 30,000 elected representatives and 24 line ministries.
Financial and Nutritional Support
Under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana launched in 2018, the government provides financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month to each notified tuberculosis patient. Since April 2018, ₹4,454.68 crores have been disbursed directly into the bank accounts of 1.38 crore beneficiaries. The Nikshay Mitra program has seen 6,77,541 individuals and organizations distribute over 45 lakh food baskets to TB patients, with over 2 lakh MY Bharat volunteers participating as supporters.
Technological Advancements and AI Integration
India has deployed extensive technological infrastructure including more than 9,800 rapid molecular testing facilities and 107 culture and drug susceptibility testing laboratories—the world's largest network. The program has achieved a 34-fold surge in X-ray screening through the deployment of over 500 AI-enabled hand-held chest X-ray units, with 1,500 additional units being delivered to states and union territories.
Several AI-driven initiatives have been implemented: Cough Against TB (CATB) uses acoustic AI to analyze cough patterns via smartphone app, screening 1.62+ lakh people with 12–16% extra case yield over conventional methods. Predictive analytics for adverse outcome prediction has reported a 27% decline in adverse outcomes after nationwide deployment. DeepCXR radiology AI for automated reading of digital X-rays has been deployed in 8 States/UTs to identify presumptive TB cases.
The TB Mukt Bharat App features the AI chatbot 'Khushi' to track progress, guide citizens on symptoms, and locate nearby diagnostic centers. The Ni-kshay digital platform facilitates direct benefit transfer of nutritional support.
Treatment Innovations
The program has introduced the shorter, safer BPaLM regimen (Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid, and Moxifloxacin) for drug-resistant TB patients, reducing treatment duration to 6 months. More than 15,000 MDR/RR-TB patients have been initiated on this regimen. The treatment success rate under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan has risen to 90%, surpassing the global average of 88%.
Infrastructure and Coverage
India has established 1,87,250 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (as of October 13, 2026) including sub-health centres, primary health centres, urban primary health centres, AYUSH centres and Urban Health and Wellness Centres that provide TB diagnosis services. During the second phase of the campaign starting March 2026, over 1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Shivirs were held across 1.2 lakh high-risk villages and wards, backed by active participation from 32 lakh students and 1.9 lakh MY Bharat volunteers.
Community Mobilization
The JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) campaign, organized on October 13, 2026, operates across 11 states and 55 districts on a pilot basis, mobilizing MY BHARAT volunteers, National Cadet Corps cadets, and designated Class-I officers to spread awareness on timely screening and treatment. The campaign aims to promote TB awareness, early detection, timely treatment, and treatment adherence while addressing stigma through community participation.