**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 2282 in Lok Sabha, concerning the increasing cases of lung cancer in women, to be answered on December 12th, 2025. It provides data, plans to address lung cancer diagnosis delays, and air pollution control initiatives. The key action involves the ongoing implementation of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Lung Cancer Incidence:**
* Adenocarcinoma accounts for about 53% of lung cancer cases among women.
* It is reportedly the most frequent histopathologic type of cancer among non-smokers.
* A significant increase in the annual per cent change of lung cancer incidence was observed in metropolitan cities from 1982 to 2016.
* The study does not directly quantify ambient air-pollution exposure among women.
* **Addressing Diagnosis Delays:**
* The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan aims to identify undiagnosed TB cases.
* During TB screening, individuals suspected of lung cancer are referred to secondary and tertiary care facilities for diagnosis.
* Cancer patients are considered vulnerable under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and are focused upon for regular screening to ensure early detection of TB and prompt treatment, if required.
* **Strengthening Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities:**
* Support is provided to States and Union Territories for setting up of State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs).
* Maximum permissible assistance for SCI is ₹120 crores and for TCCC ₹45 crores with Centre to State share in ratio of 60:40 (except for NE and Hilly States, where the share is 90:10).
* 39 institutions (19 SCI and 20 TCCC) have been approved.
* **Air Pollution Control:**
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change implemented the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in January 2019.
* NCAP aims to improve air quality in 130 cities in 24 States/UTs.
* It is implemented through city, state, and national-level Clean Air Action Plans.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government of India (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)**
* **Impact**: The Ministry is responsible for providing data on lung cancer cases, implementing screening programs (TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan), and supporting cancer treatment facilities.
* **Action Required**: Continue to support and expand TB screening programs with lung cancer detection components; provide financial support for SCIs and TCCCs.
**States and Union Territories**
* **Impact**: Responsible for setting up State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs), and implementing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
* **Action Required**: Set up SCIs and TCCCs with central assistance, implement city and state-level Clean Air Action Plans.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
* **Impact**: Responsible for implementing the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to address air pollution.
* **Action Required**: Continue implementing NCAP through city, state, and national-level Clean Air Action Plans.
**Urban Local Bodies**
* **Impact**: Responsible for implementing city-level Clean Air Action Plans within the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
* **Action Required**: Develop and implement city-level Clean Air Action Plans.
Key Entities Referenced
National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): A program implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in January 2019 to improve air quality in 130 cities.
TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: A campaign to identify undiagnosed TB cases and screen for other conditions like lung cancer.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry involved in addressing the increasing cases of lung cancer in women.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): An organization that conducts studies on lung cancer in India, providing data on the issue.
Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities Scheme: A scheme providing support to States and Union Territories for setting up of State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer Centres (TCCCs).
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2282
TOBE ANSWERED ON12TH DECEMBER, 2025
INCREASINGCASES OFLUNG CANCER IN WOMEN
2282 SMT.DHANORKAR PRATIBHASURESH:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the steep rise in cases of lung cancer among non-
smoking women inpollutedcities inthe countryandif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government has detailed data regarding the number of new cases of lung cancer
in non-smoking persons, especially women, during the last five years and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken note of the delays in diagnosis of lung cancer due to
similarity of its symptoms with Tuberculosis (TB) and the plans formulated to tackle this
problem andif so, the details thereof; and
(d) the National Action Plan formulated by the Union Government, in coordination with the
Ministry of Environment,tocontrol airpollution,alongwith the time-bounddetailsthereof ?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) & (b): According to a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research
(ICMR)–National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR) titled “A clinico-
epidemiological profile of lung cancers in India – Results from the National Cancer Registry
Programme (NCRP)”, adenocarcinoma accounted for about 53% of lung cancer cases among
women, andis“reportedlythe most frequent histopathologic typeof canceramongnon-smokers”;
the study also reported that “a significant increase in the annual per cent change of lung cancer
incidence was observed in metropolitan cities from 1982 to 2016”. The study does not directly
quantifyambientair-pollution exposure amongwomen.(c): TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is to identify undiagnosed TB cases. During TB screening, if an
individual is suspected of lung cancer, they are promptly referred to appropriate secondary and
tertiary care facilities for further diagnosis and management. Further, cancer patients are
considered as vulnerable individuals under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and are focused upon
for regularscreening toensure early detectionof TBandprompt treatment,if required.
Under Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Facilities Scheme, support is provided to States
and Union Territories for setting up of State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and Tertiary Care Cancer
Centres (TCCCs) in different parts of the country. The maximum permissible assistance for SCI
is ₹120 crores and for TCCC ₹45 crores with the Centre to State share in ratio of 60:40 (except
for NE and Hilly States, where the share is 90:10). Till date 39 institutions (19 SCI and 20
TCCC) have beenapproved.
(d): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has implemented the National
Clean Air Programme (NCAP), in January 2019 to improve air quality in 130 (non-attainment
and million-plus cities) in 24 States/UTs. The Programme in coordination with Central and State
agencies, Urban Local Bodies and other stakeholders, is being implemented through city, state
andnational-level CleanAir Action Plansaddressing keypollutionsources.
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