World TB Day 2026: Nadda launches 100-day TB Mukt Bharat campaign; TB incidence down 21% in a decade
At the World TB Day 2026 national event in Greater Noida on 24 March, Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched an intensified 100-day TB Mukt Bharat campaign covering 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards, and said India's TB incidence fell 21% and mortality 25% over the past decade.
Summary
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda chaired the World TB Day 2026 national launch in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, on 24 March 2026. The theme for 2026 is 'Yes! We Can End TB!'. Nadda said India achieved a 21% reduction in TB incidence and a 25% decline in TB mortality over the past decade, both outpacing global averages; treatment coverage reached 92%, and undetected cases fell from over 10 lakh a year to under one lakh. Since the intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan began in December 2024, over 20 crore vulnerable people have been screened and 32.65 lakh TB patients detected, including about 10.9 lakh asymptomatic patients. He launched a 100-day campaign covering 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards, the TB Mukt Bharat App with an AI-enabled 'Khushi' chatbot, and a TB-Free Urban Ward initiative.
Key facts
- Theme 2026
- Yes! We Can End TB!
- Venue
- Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh – 24 March 2026
- Decade trend
- TB incidence −21%, TB mortality −25%
- Treatment coverage
- 92%
- Abhiyaan since Dec 2024
- 20 crore+ screened; 32.65 lakh detected, incl. ~10.9 lakh asymptomatic
- Launched
- 100-day campaign (1.58 lakh villages/wards); TB Mukt Bharat App with 'Khushi' AI chatbot; TB-Free Urban Ward initiative
Practice MCQs 3 questions
What is the theme of World TB Day 2026?
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Correct answer: B — Yes! We Can End TB!
The 2026 theme is 'Yes! We Can End TB!'. World TB Day is observed every year on 24 March.
According to the Health Ministry (March 2026), by how much did TB incidence in India decline over the past decade?
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Correct answer: C — 21%
TB incidence fell 21% and TB mortality 25% over the past decade, both outpacing global averages.
Consider the following launched or reported on World TB Day 2026: 1. A 100-day TB Mukt Bharat campaign covering 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards. 2. An AI-enabled chatbot named 'Khushi' in the TB Mukt Bharat App. 3. About 10.9 lakh asymptomatic TB patients detected since the intensified Abhiyaan began in December 2024. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1, 2 and 3
All three are correct. Of 32.65 lakh patients detected after screening over 20 crore people, about 10.9 lakh had no classical symptoms.