**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to Unstarred Question No. 2350 raised in Lok Sabha concerning the Tuberculosis burden and challenges in India. The reply, dated February 13, 2026, provides data on TB incidence and mortality rates, details the government's initiatives, and outlines strategies for addressing TB among vulnerable populations. It addresses concerns regarding the burden of TB in India and steps being taken by the Government.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **TB Statistics and Global Burden:**
* India's annual TB incidence rate has declined by 21% from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 187 cases per lakh population in 2024.
* The mortality rate has declined by 25% from 28 deaths per lakh population in 2015 to 21 deaths per lakh population in 2024.
* Treatment coverage has improved from 53% in 2015 to 92% in 2024.
* India contributes approximately 25% to the total global TB burden and is ranked 38th globally for incidence rates.
* **Government Initiatives:**
* Implementation of TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (National TB Elimination Programme) under the National Health Mission (NHM) across the country.
* Benefits are available uniformly to all sections of society, regardless of caste, gender, or religion.
* Free screening, diagnosis, and treatment are provided across all public health facilities.
* Services are strengthened through decentralized delivery at the Ayushman Arogya Mandir level.
* **Strategies for Vulnerable Populations:**
* Mapping congregate settings and vulnerable populations.
* Pro-active screening of vulnerable populations by chest x-ray for early detection.
* Upfront nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for all presumptive TB cases.
* Timely treatment initiation and completion.
* Differentiated TB care for managing high-risk TB cases.
* Nutrition support and preventive treatment.
* **Special Provisions for Tribal, Hilly, and Difficult Areas:**
* Expansion of diagnostics and treatment centers, programme management units to improve access to TB patients.
* TB Programme Management Unit: 1 per 1 lakh population.
* Microscopy Centres: 1 per 50,000 population
* Incentives: One-time incentive of Rs. 750 for travel support for transportation of patient and attendant.
**Impact Analysis**
* **General Population:**
* **Impact:** Increased access to TB screening, diagnosis, and treatment services, leading to a reduction in TB incidence and mortality rates.
* **Action Required:** Utilize available services and adhere to treatment protocols.
* **Vulnerable Populations:**
* **Impact:** Targeted screening and treatment strategies addressing specific needs and challenges faced by vulnerable groups.
* **Action Required:** Participate in screening programs and seek timely medical assistance.
* **Healthcare Providers:**
* **Impact:** Provision of additional resources and infrastructure for TB management, including TB Units and Microscopy Centres.
* **Action Required:** Implement revised guidelines, enhance screening efforts, and ensure timely treatment initiation.
* **Government and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare:**
* **Impact:** Accountable for the successful implementation of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and achieving targeted reductions in TB incidence and mortality.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the progress of the National TB Elimination Programme, allocate resources effectively, and implement necessary policy changes to achieve program goals.
Key Entities Referenced
TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (National TB Elimination Programme): A national program for tuberculosis elimination, operating under the National Health Mission.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The central ministry responsible for health and family welfare initiatives, including the TB elimination program.
National Health Mission (NHM): A national mission under which the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is implemented.
World Health Organization's Global TB Report: A report by WHO that provides data on the incidence, mortality, and treatment coverage of TB globally.
India: The country that faces a major tuberculosis burden.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2350
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13th FEBRUARY2026
TUBERCULOSIS BURDENAND CHALLENGES
2350.SHRISELVAGANAPATHI T.M.:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that India continues to bear a major portion of the global tuberculosis
burden,accountingfor about 27% of the cases worldwide andif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether it is a fact that India’s rural, tribal and migrant communities face multiple
challenges in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and if so, the details
thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that the country needs to conduct a nationwide mapping of non-notified
settlementstoidentifyhigh-burden TBclusters andif so, the detailsthereof;
(d) whether it is also a fact that migrant populations in India encounter critical obstacles in
accessing TBcare due tolimited healthservices andif so, the detailsthereof; and
(e) the steps taken/proposed tobe takenbythe Government inthisregard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (e) As per the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2025, the annual TB
incidence rate hasdeclined by 21% from 237 cases per lakh population in 2015 to 187 cases per
lakh population in 2024 and the mortality rate has declined by 25% from 28 deaths per lakh
population in 2015 to 21 deaths per lakh population in 2024. The treatment coverage has
improved from 53% in 2015 to 92% in 2024. India has contributed to approximately 25% of the
totalglobalburdenandisranked 38thgloballyfor incidencerates.
The Government has implemented TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (National TB Elimination
Programme, under the aegis of National Health Mission (NHM) across the country. The benefits
of the programme are available to all sections of the society on a uniform basis, irrespective of
caste, gender, religion etc and free screening, diagnosis and treatment is provided across all
public health facilities in the districts. These services are further strengthened through
decentralized delivery at the Ayushman Arogya Mandir level, ensuring last-mile access and
equity.
Further, to address TB among the vulnerable population across the country, key strategies
implemented are mapping of congregate settings & vulnerable population including
asymptomatic, pro-active screening of vulnerable population by chest x-ray for early detection,
upfront nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for all presumptive TB cases, timely treatmentinitiation & completion, differentiated TB care for managing high-risk TB cases, nutrition
support andpreventive treatment toeligiblevulnerable population.
Further, in all tribal, hilly and difficult areas, special provisions have been made to expand
diagnostics and treatment centres, programme management units, to improve access to TB
patientsandcoverage of TB services asunder:
TB Programme Management Unit (TB Units) - 1 for every 1 lakh population in tribal,
hilly anddifficult area asagainst 1 for every2 lakhs generalpopulation. EveryTB unit is
supported with a supervisory staff for management of diagnosis and treatmentservices in
the area.
Microscopy Centresfor diagnosis of TB - The norms for establishing microscopy centres
is 1 per 1,00,000 general population and has been relaxed to 1 per 50,000 population in
tribal,hilly, anddifficult areas.
Incentives for travel support - for transportation of patient and attendant in tribal /
hilly/difficult areasa one-time incentive of Rs. 750 isprovided
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