India completes genome sequencing of 10,000 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced on 24 March 2025 at a World TB Day summit in New Delhi that India had completed genome sequencing of 10,000 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Summary
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced at a World TB Day summit at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 24 March 2025 that genome sequencing of 10,000 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis had been completed. The work is part of the Dare2eraD TB (Data Driven Research to Eradicate TB) programme launched on 24 March 2022. A key part is the Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance (InTGS) Consortium, led by DBT, CSIR and ICMR with clinical institutions, which aims to sequence over 32,000 TB isolates to identify drug-resistance mutations. Singh said genome sequencing could cut the time to find effective treatment from weeks to hours or days.
Key facts
- Announced
- 24 March 2025, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi
- Milestone
- 10,000 M. tuberculosis isolates sequenced
- Programme
- Dare2eraD TB, launched 24 March 2022
- Consortium
- InTGS, led by DBT, CSIR and ICMR
- Target
- Over 32,000 isolates
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Genome sequencing of how many Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates was announced as completed on 24 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — 10,000
Dr. Jitendra Singh announced the completion of genome sequencing of 10,000 isolates; the programme's target is over 32,000.
The sequencing of 10,000 TB bacterium genomes, announced in March 2025, is part of which programme?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Dare2eraD TB
The work is part of the Dare2eraD TB (Data Driven Research to Eradicate TB) programme launched on 24 March 2022.
Which three bodies lead the Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance (InTGS) Consortium, as described on 24 March 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — DBT, CSIR and ICMR
The InTGS Consortium is spearheaded by the Department of Biotechnology, CSIR and ICMR, with major clinical institutions.