India recorded 21.7 lakh tuberculosis cases and 3 lakh deaths due to the disease in 2024, according to the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2025 released on November 12.
Health Minister of State Anupriya Patel shared these figures in response to a question raised in Rajya Sabha by Neeraj Shekhar. The minister clarified that the actual number differs from the 27.1 lakh cases mentioned in the question.
The WHO report does not break down the cases by individual states. However, the government tracks TB cases through the Ni-kshay portal, which shows the state-wise distribution of cases reported from January to October 2025.
Cases Reported in 2025
From January to October 2025, India reported over 22 lakh TB cases across all states and union territories through the Ni-kshay portal.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of cases at 6.04 lakh, followed by Maharashtra with 1.88 lakh cases and Bihar with 1.80 lakh cases. Delhi reported 98,309 cases during this period.
The northeastern states and union territories reported lower numbers. Lakshadweep had just 14 cases, Ladakh reported 246 cases, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands recorded 550 cases.
State-wise TB Cases (January-October 2025)
| State / UT | TB Cases |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 604,726 |
| Maharashtra | 188,653 |
| Bihar | 180,203 |
| Rajasthan | 151,995 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 147,443 |
| Gujarat | 111,909 |
| Delhi | 98,309 |
| West Bengal | 87,132 |
| Tamil Nadu | 79,326 |
| Haryana | 77,377 |
| Telangana | 72,840 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 65,695 |
| Karnataka | 63,047 |
| Jharkhand | 56,192 |
| Punjab | 52,578 |
| Odisha | 51,057 |
| Assam | 44,008 |
| Chhattisgarh | 34,540 |
| Uttarakhand | 25,165 |
| Kerala | 16,498 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 13,223 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 12,554 |
| Chandigarh | 5,765 |
| Meghalaya | 4,089 |
| Nagaland | 3,604 |
| Tripura | 3,016 |
| Puducherry | 2,824 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 2,168 |
| Manipur | 2,190 |
| Mizoram | 2,003 |
| Goa | 1,597 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Diu & Daman | 1,123 |
| Sikkim | 1,045 |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 550 |
| Ladakh | 246 |
| Lakshadweep | 14 |
India’s TB burden reduced significantly
India, home to the world’s largest TB burden, has made remarkable progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His vision for eliminating TB has led to innovative measures, acknowledged by the WHO. Between 2015 and 2023, TB incidence in India declined by 17.7%, double the global average. Treatment coverage rose from 59% in 2015 to 85% in 2023, with 25.1 lakh patients diagnosed last year.
The introduction of advanced drugs like Bedaquiline and Delamanid, which improve treatment outcomes, particularly for drug-resistant TB, has bolstered India’s fight against TB. The adoption of the BPaLM regimen, a six-month course, has streamlined the treatment process, offering a more efficient alternative to the traditional 19–20-month regimens.
Diagnostics have significantly improved. From a few hundred molecular diagnostic machines in 2014–15, India now has 8,293 machines nationwide, reducing testing time and cost. Indigenous WHO-endorsed molecular tests have reinforced India’s position as a global leader in TB care.
The Global TB Report 2024 highlighted global challenges. Rein Houben, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in TB care,
“Tuberculosis remains a huge problem, and this WHO announcement highlights the challenge and opportunities ahead. Current TB policies are passive and wait for symptomatic individuals to seek healthcare. We need new strategies, including early detection to prevent transmission and an effective vaccine.”
The persistence of asymptomatic TB, which contributes to ongoing transmission, further hinders the global TB response. Addressing this will require a proactive approach, significant investments in research, and new tools to combat the disease.
The WHO report highlights the urgent need to prioritise global TB control efforts. It emphasizes the importance of multisectoral action, addressing social health determinants, improving access to quality healthcare, and investing in research and development of new tools. We can only achieve the goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030 through a concerted global effort.
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