Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda will preside over the national-level event commemorating World TB Day 2026, reinforcing India’s commitment to eliminating Tuberculosis and accelerating progress toward a TB-free nation.

India continues to bear the highest global burden of tuberculosis, accounting for nearly 27% of the world’s TB cases, with an estimated 28 lakh (2.8 million) new cases reported annually. Despite this challenge, significant progress has been made in recent years through strengthened policy interventions, expanded diagnostics, and improved treatment coverage.

The national event will bring together government leaders, clinicians, public health experts, researchers, and global partners to review progress, highlight innovations, and chart the way forward toward India’s ambitious goal of eliminating TB by 2025, ahead of global targets.

The government has been implementing a range of flagship initiatives under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), including:

Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana: Providing ₹500 per month nutritional support to TB patients
Ni-kshay Mitra Initiative: Community-led support programme for TB patients
100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: Intensified campaign for active case finding in high-burden districts
Digital TB Surveillance via Ni-kshay Portal: Tracking patient treatment and outcomes in real-time

India has also significantly expanded its diagnostic capacity, with over 6,000 molecular diagnostic machines (CBNAAT/Truenat) deployed across the country, improving early and accurate detection of TB, including drug-resistant strains.

Recent data indicates improvements in treatment success rates (over 85%) and increased case notifications, reflecting stronger surveillance and outreach. However, challenges such as drug-resistant TB, delayed diagnosis, and social stigma continue to require focused intervention.

The event will showcase advancements in AI-enabled diagnostics, molecular testing, digital health integration, and community engagement models, all of which are playing a crucial role in strengthening TB control efforts.

Officials emphasized that achieving TB elimination will require multi sectoral collaboration, sustained funding, and community participation, alongside continued innovation in diagnostics and treatment strategies.

Under the leadership of Jagat Prakash Nadda, the government is intensifying efforts to ensure universal access to free TB diagnosis and treatment, while strengthening preventive care and awareness initiatives nationwide.

The observance of World TB Day serves as a critical platform to mobilize action, recognize frontline healthcare workers, and reaffirm India’s commitment to ending TB as a public health threat.