India Records 21% Drop in TB Cases, 25% Fall in Mortality — Key Facts

India has achieved a major milestone in its fight against tuberculosis (TB). According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global TB Report 2025, the country has recorded a 21% reduction in TB incidence and a 25% decrease in mortality between 2015 and 2024. These gains are being attributed to strengthened surveillance, early detection, and expanded treatment coverage under national efforts such as the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

Key Statistics & Findings

• In 2015, India’s TB incidence was 237 cases per lakh population, which dropped to 187 per lakh by 2024 — a 21% decline.
• Mortality due to TB reduced from 28 deaths per lakh in 2015 to 21 per lakh in 2024 — approximately a 25% fall.
• Treatment coverage improved dramatically from 53% in 2015 to 92% in 2024, reflecting higher diagnosis and access to care.
• India’s decline in incidence outpaces the global average decline of around 12% for the same period.
• India’s treatment‑success rate reached around 90%, slightly above the global average of 88%.
• The number of “missing” TB cases (undiagnosed or unreported) has fallen from an estimated 15 lakh in 2015 to under 1 lakh in 2024.

Why This Matters

With India being one of the largest TB‑burden countries globally, the downward trends reflect a major public‑health achievement and signal positive progress towards the national goal of “TB‑Mukt Bharat”.

• Improved treatment coverage and early detection reduce transmission, lower the burden on health systems, and save lives.
• The use of modern diagnostics, community mobilisation and large‑scale outreach adds to the sustainability of progress.
• It demonstrates how coordinated policy, technology uptake, and programme implementation can deliver measurable public‑health gains.

Challenges & Next Steps

Despite the progress, certain challenges remain,

• Even at 187 cases per lakh, incidence remains high — elimination targets are still a distant goal.
• Maintaining and scaling surveillance, diagnosis and treatment in hard‑to‑reach areas remains essential.
• Preventing and managing drug‑resistant TB, co‑morbidities like diabetes, malnutrition and HIV are continuing tasks.
• Ensuring treatment adherence, reducing socio‑economic barriers and integrating nutrition and psychosocial support remain key to sustaining gains.

Policy‑recommendation priorities include,

• Strengthening community‑based screening and decentralised care.
• Enhancing private‑sector engagement and public‑private partnerships in TB care.
• Investing in new vaccines, shorter treatment regimens and diagnostics.
• Addressing the social determinants of TB — poverty, malnutrition, crowded living conditions.
• Monitoring and evaluating progress continuously to detect any resurgence.

Static Facts

• Period of decline reported: 2015 to 2024.
• Incidence drop: 21% (from 237 to 187 cases per lakh).
• Mortality drop: around 25% (from 28 to 21 deaths per lakh).
• Treatment coverage in 2024: 92% (up from 53% in 2015).
• India’s treatment success rate: approximately 90%.
• India’s missing cases reduced from ~15 lakh in 2015 to under 1 lakh in 2024.
• National initiative: TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (launched 2024) focuses on elimination with early diagnosis and comprehensive care.