India has recorded a 38% decline in tuberculosis (TB)-related mortality between 2015 and 2025, exceeding the global reduction of 35%, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2026. The country’s estimated TB mortality rate fell from 28 deaths per 100,000 people in 2015 to 18 per 100,000 in 2025, marking progress in its efforts to reduce the disease burden.
However, the improvement in mortality has not eliminated India’s position as the country with the world’s largest TB burden. India accounted for approximately 25% of global TB cases in 2025, according to the report. The latest figures therefore present a mixed picture: deaths are declining, but the country continues to face a substantial challenge in preventing new infections, identifying patients and ensuring timely treatment.
India Outperforms Global TB Mortality Reduction
The WHO report, released on November 12, 2026, shows that India achieved a 38% reduction in estimated TB mortality over the decade from 2015 to 2025. This was three percentage points higher than the global reduction of 35%.
| Indicator | India | Global |
|---|---|---|
| Reduction in TB mortality since 2015 | 38% | 35% |
| India’s estimated TB mortality rate in 2015 | 28 per lakh | — |
| India’s estimated TB mortality rate in 2025 | 18 per lakh | — |
| India’s share of global TB cases in 2025 | 25% | — |
The decline represents progress towards the WHO’s End TB targets, which aim to substantially reduce TB deaths and new infections compared with 2015 levels.
The WHO’s mortality estimates for India incorporate information from several sources, including the Registrar General of India’s Sample Registration System, community-based verbal autopsy assessments and data from the government’s Ni-kshay portal.
The updated estimates reflect improvements in the information available to assess deaths caused by TB. They should be understood as estimates produced using the WHO’s methodology rather than a simple count of deaths reported through one surveillance system.
India Still Accounts for One in Four Global TB Cases
Despite the reduction in mortality, India remained the largest contributor to the worldwide TB burden in 2025.
The WHO report estimated that the eight countries with the highest numbers of people developing TB accounted for approximately 67% of global cases.
| Country | Share of global TB cases in 2025 |
|---|---|
| India | 25% |
| Indonesia | 10% |
| Philippines | 6.8% |
| China | 6.5% |
| Pakistan | 6.4% |
| Nigeria | 4.9% |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 3.9% |
| Bangladesh | 3.7% |
Together, these countries represent a significant concentration of the global TB epidemic.
The WHO estimated that 10.6 million people developed TB worldwide in 2025, while approximately 1.13 million died from the disease.
India’s large contribution means that progress in its public health system will have a considerable influence on global efforts to control TB.
India’s TB Incidence Estimates Are Under Review
The 2026 report does not provide an updated estimate of India’s TB incidence. The WHO said the country’s estimates and associated indicators are under review while district-level sentinel surveillance data are being finalised and analysed.
The review also follows a nationally representative TB prevalence survey conducted in 2025 by the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (ICMR-NIRT). India has shared the survey findings with the WHO for technical assessment.
Revised estimates of TB incidence are expected in early 2027, after which the WHO plans to publish an updated country profile.
This distinction matters because mortality and incidence measure different aspects of the disease. Mortality tracks deaths, while incidence estimates the number of people who develop TB during a particular period. A fall in deaths does not automatically mean that new infections are declining at the same rate.
India Reports 94% Treatment Success Rate
Another important indicator highlighted alongside the mortality decline is India’s treatment success rate.
The Union Health Ministry said India achieved a 94% treatment success rate among patients with drug-susceptible TB. The figure reflects the proportion of patients in the relevant treatment cohort who successfully completed treatment or were documented as cured.
The government has attributed improvements to interventions under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), including:
- Proactive screening and early case detection.
- Artificial intelligence-enabled chest X-rays.
- Rapid molecular diagnostic tests.
- Prompt initiation of treatment.
- Patient-centred and differentiated TB care.
- Nutritional assistance through government and community programmes.
These measures are designed to identify infections earlier and reduce delays between diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment success is particularly important because patients who do not complete their prescribed treatment can face continued illness, relapse and the development or spread of drug-resistant TB.
The 94% figure applies specifically to drug-susceptible TB and should not be interpreted as the success rate for every form of the disease.
TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan Expands Screening
The government’s TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has expanded screening activities across the country, with a focus on identifying cases that might otherwise remain undetected.
According to the Health Ministry, more than 25 crore people were covered under intensified screening between December 7, 2024, and November 8, 2026.
The campaign’s reported achievements include:
| Screening activity | Reported total |
|---|---|
| People covered by intensified screening | More than 25 crore |
| Chest X-rays conducted | More than 11 crore |
| Molecular diagnostic tests | More than 3 crore |
| New TB cases identified | 48.64 lakh |
| Asymptomatic cases identified | 14.97 lakh |
The identification of asymptomatic cases is particularly relevant because some people with TB may not initially recognise symptoms or seek medical attention. Screening can help detect infections earlier, allowing patients to enter the diagnostic and treatment system.
Chest X-rays can identify abnormalities that require further investigation, while molecular tests can help confirm TB and, in appropriate cases, identify drug resistance.
However, screening numbers alone do not determine programme success. Patients must also receive confirmatory diagnosis, appropriate medicines and continued support throughout treatment.
Domestic Funding Supports India’s TB Programme
The WHO report also highlighted India’s reliance on domestic resources to finance its TB response.
According to the government, 96% of the funding requirements for India’s TB programme were met through domestic resources. This indicates that national funding plays a central role in maintaining screening, diagnosis, treatment and patient-support activities.
Two initiatives form part of the government’s wider approach to supporting people affected by TB.
Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana provides nutritional assistance to eligible TB patients during treatment. Adequate nutrition is important because TB can contribute to weight loss and nutritional deficiencies.
Ni-kshay Mitra encourages individuals, organisations and community groups to support TB patients through nutritional and other forms of assistance.
These programmes complement medical treatment by addressing some of the social and economic difficulties that can affect recovery and treatment completion.
Drug-Resistant TB Remains a Concern
India’s progress in reducing overall TB mortality does not mean that every challenge has been resolved.
The WHO report identified India among four countries that together accounted for more than half of global multidrug-resistant TB cases in 2025. Drug-resistant TB is more difficult to treat because some of the medicines commonly used against the disease are no longer effective.
Treatment can require specialised medicines, longer clinical monitoring and careful management of side effects.
The WHO and the Health Ministry have indicated that multidrug-resistant TB incidence has been gradually declining. Nevertheless, the continuing burden makes rapid drug-resistance testing, appropriate treatment and patient follow-up important parts of India’s TB strategy.
The Bigger Picture
India’s 38% reduction in TB mortality is an important public health development, particularly because the decline exceeds the global reduction reported for the same period. Expanded screening, rapid diagnostics, improved treatment delivery and nutritional assistance have all formed part of the country’s response.
Yet the scale of the remaining challenge is considerable. India still accounts for approximately one-quarter of global TB cases, while its incidence estimates are awaiting revision. The next phase of the country’s response will depend on preventing new infections, identifying cases earlier, improving access to treatment and addressing drug-resistant TB.
Looking Ahead
The WHO and Indian health authorities are expected to complete the review of India’s TB incidence estimates in early 2027. The updated figures should provide a clearer picture of how the country’s disease burden has changed and whether improvements in mortality are accompanied by a comparable decline in new infections.
For now, the 38% reduction in deaths and 94% treatment success rate provide measurable evidence of progress, but they do not mean that India has eliminated TB. Sustained investment in diagnosis, treatment, preventive care and community support will remain essential to reducing the disease burden further.
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