Daily Update1 min read
TB-Free India Update: 21% Decline in Incidence and JOSH Outreach
A PIB backgrounder reports a 21% reduction in India's TB incidence between 2015 and 2024, and describes JOSH Teams' pilot outreach in 11 states and 55 districts.
What happened
The PIB Research Unit published a TB-control progress backgrounder on 13 October 2026, including youth-led JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) outreach.
Key facts
- Citing the WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2025, the backgrounder reports India's TB incidence declined 21% during 2015–2024, compared with 12% globally.
- Treatment coverage reported: India 92%, global 78%.
- It reports more than 28.1 crore cumulative screenings, over 20 lakh TB Preventive Treatment recipients, 5.7 lakh new Nikshay Mitras and 46,118 TB-free-certified Gram Panchayats.
- JOSH pilot: 11 states and 55 districts, with MY BHARAT volunteers, NCC cadets and a Class-I officer.
Why it matters
The update connects disease surveillance, screening, treatment support and community mobilisation with SDG 3.
Exam takeaway
Distinguish reduced incidence from elimination. Revise NTEP, Nikshay Mitra and JOSH outreach.
Where this comes from
Official source highlight
A PIB backgrounder reports a 21% reduction in India's TB incidence between 2015 and 2024, and describes JOSH Teams' pilot outreach in 11 states and 55 districts.
- Authority / source
- PIB Research Unit
- Update published