Key Facts

  • Mortality Reduction: India achieved a 38% reduction in TB mortality over the 2015–2025 decade, outpacing the global average decline of 23%.
  • Treatment Success Rate: The national treatment success rate for drug-susceptible tuberculosis reached 94%, reflecting robust primary healthcare tracking.
  • Case Notification Surge: Over 25.5 lakh TB cases were notified in 2025–26, with private sector notifications accounting for nearly 33% via the digital Ni-kshay portal.
  • Nutritional Direct Benefit Transfer: Under the Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, monthly direct benefit transfers of ₹500 to ₹1,000 provided essential caloric support to over 1 crore cumulative beneficiaries.

GK Context

  • National Strategic Plan: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is executing the National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination, targeting zero catastrophic health expenditure for affected households.
  • Global Disease Burden: India still accounts for approximately 26% of the global tuberculosis caseload, necessitating sustained investments in adult BCG revaccination trials.
  • Bedaquiline & Pretomanid Rollout: Shorter, all-oral BPaL/BPaLM regimens have replaced injectable toxic therapies for multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB) patients.

Static GK

  • Etiological Agent: Tuberculosis is an airborne infectious disease caused by the acid-fast bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, primarily affecting pulmonary tissue.
  • Ni-kshay Platform: Web-based electronic surveillance management system developed by the Central TB Division for real-time patient notification and adherence tracking.
  • World TB Day: Observed annually on March 24 to commemorate Dr. Robert Koch's 1882 discovery of the tuberculosis bacillus.

Mains Analytical Framework

  • Socio-Economic Determinants: Under-nutrition, indoor air pollution, and delayed health-seeking behavior remain the chief drivers of persistent transmission in marginalized populations.
  • End TB Strategy Alignment: Bridging the final mile requires expanding Truenat/CBNAAT molecular testing at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and scaling community-led Ni-kshay Mitra partnerships.