Towards a TB-Free India

TB and Symptoms        

What is Tuberculosis?       

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually impacting the lungs. TB can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, kidneys, or the spine.

A person infected by the bacterium may become sick, but some do not. Inactive TB cases or latent TB infections also exist. People with inactive TB may not spread the disease to others like those with an active TB infection– yet they may develop active TB anytime and become sick. Babies and children, and people with weaker immune systems, are more likely to get sick when infected. Without proper treatment, active TB can be fatal.

TB Symptoms          

Symptoms of active TB are usually specific to the site affected by the bacteria, though there are some symptoms common to all types of TB.

People with active or symptomatic TB can spread the TB bacteria to others. When they cough, sneeze or speak, tiny droplets containing the bacteria can be released into the air and inhaled by people nearby—especially in spaces with poor ventilation.

Although tuberculosis spreads through the air, it does not transmit through:

• Handshakes
• Using public toilets
• Sharing food and utensils
• Everyday social interactions

Patients with lung TB generally stop being contagious after they have been on appropriate TB medicines for at least two weeks. People with TB in parts of the body other than the lungs usually cannot spread the disease.

Strategic Plan to End TB in India  

The Government is committed to eliminating tuberculosis (TB), in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The National Strategic Plan to End TB in India 2020-25, announced in June 2020, aims to eliminate tuberculosis through four pillars: Build, Prevent, Detect, and Treat. The plan focuses on early diagnosis, reducing transmission, treating patients with appropriate drugs and regimens, and creating patient support systems.

National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme

In 2020, the Government of India renamed the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) to the National TB Elimination Program (NTEP). This reflects India’s goal to eliminate tuberculosis before the global target of 2030.The NTEP builds on the four pillars of the NSP: Detect – Treat – Prevent – Build. The key activities of the programme are:

• Early diagnosis of individuals with TB through high-quality testing, and proactive community outreach to find missing cases in vulnerable populations.
• Prompt treatment with quality-assured drugs and treatment regimens, including drug-resistant TB.
• Engaging with patients seeking care in the private sector.
• Patient-centric treatment support and nutrition interventions through direct benefit transfer and the Ni-kshay Mitra initiative.
• Contact tracing and TB preventive treatment among household contacts, children, people living with HIV (PLHIV), and in high risk /vulnerable populations.
• Airborne infection control measures.
• Multi-sectoral response for addressing social determinants.

The government runs various programmes under NTEP.

Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan     

The Pradhan Mantri-TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (TB-Free India Campaign) was launched on September 9, 2022, as an additional key component of the NTEP. This initiative was launched to unite people from all walks of life in a ‘Jan Andolan’ (people’s movement) and accelerate the nation’s progress towards eliminating TB. Its objectives are:

• Provide Additional Support to TB Patients to improve treatment outcomes
• Augment Community Involvement
• Leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Nikshay Poshan Yojana and the Ni-kshay Mitra Programme

TB patients must eat a high-protein diet to counteract the adverse side-effects of the treatment drugs. The Nikshay Poshan Yojana, launched in 2018, provides financial assistance of Rs. 1,000 per month to each notified tuberculosis patient. Since its launch in April 2018, Rs.4,454.68 crores have been disbursed directly into the bank accounts of 1.38 crore beneficiaries.

TB treatment is long, lasting at least 6 months, and sometimes even longer. A Ni-kshay Mitra is a “TB Friend” or supporter who provides TB patients with help during this treatment period. A person, an NGO, corporations, religious and community groups, government officials and public figures can volunteer to be Ni-kshay Mitras.

The TB Friend provides regular food baskets to help patients reduce out-of-pocket expenditures. They can also provide psychosocial support by checking in regularly, and vocational support to help patients rebuild their lives after recovery.

As of November 12, 2025:

• 6,77,541 individuals and organisations, as Ni-kshay Mitras, distributed over 45 lakh food baskets to TB patients.
• Over 2 lakh MY Bharat volunteers have come forward to serve as Ni-kshay Mitras. MY Bharat is an initiative by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports which connects 15-29-year-old people to various government departments, private organisations and civil-society partnerships to address real-world challenges and issues.

100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan       

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched one of India’s most intensive TB elimination drives called the 100-Day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan on 7^th December 2024 in 347 high-priority districts across 33 States/UTs. To achieve early diagnosis of TB, vulnerability mapping and systematic screening of high-risk populations for TB were undertaken. The Jan Andolan also led to active involvement of over 30,000 elected representatives and 24 line ministries and support of Ni-kshay Mitras, exhibiting a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach to TB elimination. The strategies of TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan have now been scaled up and expanded nationwide across all districts.

As of June 2026, the intensified campaign has crossed major milestones: over 28.1 crore people screened, 20 lakh individuals provided TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), and 5.7 lakh new Nikshay Mitras added.

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. The treatment success rate under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan has risen to 90%, surpassing the global average of 88%.

New Initiatives       

New shorter, safer and highly effective BPaLM regimen having Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, Linezolid and Moxifloxacin has been introduced under the programme for drug-resistant TB patients, which will reduce the duration of treatment to 6 months. More than 15,000 MDR/RR-TB patients have been initiated on this regimen.

TB Preventive treatment: Recognising that prevention is as critical as cure, TB Preventive Treatment (TPT) is provided to eligible beneficiaries to prevent the progression of TB infection to active disease. Through targeted and innovative approach, the programme has successfully protected household contacts and people living with HIV (PLHIV) over the years by administering TPT. The intervention has also been integrated with active and intensive case-finding campaigns and expansion to other vulnerable groups.

                Ayushman Arogya Mandirs          

Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are community health centres under the larger Ayushman Bharat scheme providing universal and affordable healthcare to all. There are 1,87,250 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in India (as on October 13, 2026) – including sub-health centres, primary health centres, urban primary health centres, AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) centres and Urban Health and Wellness Centres. People showing TB symptoms can go to these centres to get diagnosed.

Healthcare workers at an Ayushman Arogya Mandir in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district screen women for TB and other diseases (September 20, 2025), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Technological Infrastructure      

More than 9800 rapid molecular testing facilities and 107 culture and drug susceptibility testing laboratories exist – the world’s largest network – for early TB detection and care. Other tools are:

• Over 500 AI-enabled hand-held chest X-ray units for community screening, with 1,500 being delivered to the states and union territories
• Ni-kshay digital platform facilitates direct benefit transfer of nutritional support
• 34-Fold Surge in X-Ray Screening: Driven by the large-scale deployment of handheld X-ray units nationwide.
• TB Mukt Bharat App & 'Khushi' Chatbot: A newly launched digital platform integrated with an AI-powered chatbot to track progress, guide citizens on symptoms, and locate nearby diagnostic centers.
• Capacity Building: The Ministry has expanded radiographer positions under the National Health Mission alongside expanding Truenat and CBNAAT diagnostic machinery.