World Tuberculosis Day — India’s TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and 100-Day Campaign

🗞️ Why in News The President of India, on World Tuberculosis Day (March 24, 2026), highlighted India’s 21% reduction in TB incidence under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan and launched a 100-day intensified campaign combining AI-powered diagnostics with community participation (Jan Bhagidari).

India’s TB Burden — The Scale of the Challenge

India carries the world’s highest tuberculosis burden, accounting for approximately 26% of all global TB cases. According to the WHO Global TB Report 2024, India reported an estimated 27 lakh new TB cases annually and approximately 3.2 lakh TB-related deaths.

Progress Under TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan

Indicator Achievement
TB incidence reduction 21% since 2015 (nearly double the global rate)
TB mortality reduction 25% decline since 2015
People screened Over 20 crore
Cases detected through active screening 32 lakh
AI-powered X-ray units deployed 3,000+ handheld units
Asymptomatic patients identified 50% of detected cases

India’s TB elimination target is 2025 — five years ahead of the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of 2030. While the 2025 target may not be fully met, the intensified campaign demonstrates continued political commitment.

The 100-Day Intensified Campaign

The newly launched campaign focuses on three pillars:

1. Technology-Driven Diagnosis

  • AI-powered portable X-ray units: 3,000+ devices deployed in remote and tribal areas
  • Molecular testing: TruNat and CBNAAT machines for rapid drug-susceptibility testing
  • Ni-kshay platform: National TB information system for case tracking and notification

2. Jan Bhagidari (People’s Participation)

  • Ni-kshay Mitras: Community volunteers who “adopt” TB patients for emotional and nutritional support
  • Gram Panchayat involvement: Local bodies conducting house-to-house surveys
  • Private sector partnership: Mandatory notification of TB cases by private practitioners (since 2012)

3. Nutritional and Financial Support

  • Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: Rs 500/month Direct Benefit Transfer to every notified TB patient
  • Ni-kshay Vahans: Mobile diagnostic vans reaching underserved populations
  • Ayushman Bharat coverage: TB patients eligible for treatment under PM-JAY

Understanding Drug-Resistant TB

Type Definition Treatment Duration
DS-TB Drug-Susceptible TB (responds to standard drugs) 6-9 months
MDR-TB Multi-Drug Resistant (resistant to rifampicin + isoniazid) 18-24 months
XDR-TB Extensively Drug Resistant (MDR + fluoroquinolone resistance) Up to 30 months
TDR-TB Totally Drug Resistant (resistant to all first and second-line drugs) Experimental regimens

India has approximately 1.19 lakh MDR-TB cases annually — among the highest globally. The BPaL regimen (bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid) has shown promise for XDR-TB treatment.

The Asymptomatic Challenge

The revelation that 50% of TB patients are asymptomatic is significant. These individuals do not cough or show classic symptoms but still spread the bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) through droplets. This underscores the importance of:

  • Active case finding rather than passive reporting
  • AI-powered chest X-ray screening in high-burden districts
  • Contact tracing of known TB patients’ family members and co-workers

Global Context

Country Estimated TB Cases (2024) Share of Global Burden
India 27 lakh 26%
Indonesia 10.6 lakh 10%
China 7.4 lakh 7.1%
Philippines 6.5 lakh 6.3%
Pakistan 6.1 lakh 5.8%

The End TB Strategy (WHO, 2015) aims for a 90% reduction in TB deaths and 80% reduction in incidence by 2030 compared to 2015 levels.

Challenges Ahead

Structural Challenges

  • Urban overcrowding: Slums and informal settlements are TB hotspots
  • Migrant workers: Difficult to track across states, often miss treatment
  • Malnutrition: India’s high malnutrition rates (BMI < 18.5 in 21.6% of adults) fuel TB susceptibility
  • Co-infections: HIV-TB co-infection adds complexity (India has ~90,000 HIV-TB cases)

Health System Gaps

  • Private sector fragmentation: 50%+ of TB patients first visit private practitioners who may not notify
  • Diagnostic delays: Average 2-3 months between symptom onset and diagnosis
  • Treatment adherence: 6-9 month courses lead to dropout, especially once symptoms improve

UPSC Relevance

Prelims: World TB Day (March 24), BCG vaccine, MDR-TB definition, Ni-kshay portal, TruNat/CBNAAT Mains GS-II: Health infrastructure, TB elimination strategy, public-private partnership in healthcare Mains GS-III: AI in healthcare diagnostics, biotechnology (BPaL regimen)

📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia

World Tuberculosis Day:

  • Date: March 24 (annually since 1982)
  • Commemorates: Robert Koch’s announcement of discovering Mycobacterium tuberculosis (March 24, 1882)
  • Koch received Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1905)

TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan:

  • Launched: 2018 by President Ram Nath Kovind
  • India’s target: TB elimination by 2025
  • UN SDG target: 2030
  • Annual budget: ~Rs 4,500 crore
  • Ni-kshay portal: ni-kshay.gov.in

Key Drugs and Vaccines:

  • BCG vaccine: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (developed 1921, given at birth in India)
  • First-line drugs: Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, Ethambutol (RIPE)
  • BPaL regimen: Bedaquiline + Pretomanid + Linezolid (for XDR-TB)
  • M72/AS01E: Promising TB vaccine candidate in Phase III trials

Ni-kshay Ecosystem:

  • Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: Rs 500/month nutritional support via DBT
  • Ni-kshay Mitras: Community adoption programme
  • Ni-kshay Vahans: Mobile diagnostic vans
  • Tele-MANAS: Mental health helpline (Ministry of Health)

Other Relevant Facts:

  • India’s National TB Prevalence Survey (2019-21): First ever, confirmed high burden
  • TB notification mandatory since 2012 (Section 269 IPC, now Section 270 BNS)
  • DOTS: Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (WHO-recommended strategy)
  • India ranks 111th out of 190 countries in healthcare spending (% of GDP)
  • HIV-TB co-infection: ~90,000 cases in India annually

Sources: WHO, PIB, Insights on India