India records 38% tuberculosis mortality decline and 94% treatment success

The Global Tuberculosis Report 2026, released on 12 November 2026, highlights a 38% reduction in India's estimated tuberculosis mortality since 2015. The corresponding global decline is 35%. India also recorded 94% treatment success among patients with drug-susceptible tuberculosis. Mortality reduction and treatment success describe different indicators: one concerns changes in deaths, while the other concerns outcomes in the stated patient group.

The national response includes proactive case finding, rapid diagnostics, patient follow-up and nutritional support under the National TB Elimination Programme. Intensified screening activities between 7 December 2024 and 8 November 2026 identified 48.64 lakh tuberculosis cases, including 14.97 lakh asymptomatic cases. More than 11 crore chest X-rays and 3 crore nucleic acid amplification tests were conducted during the campaign period. These totals measure programme activity across that interval. They should not be presented as the number of cases arising in one calendar year or as evidence that every person screened had tuberculosis. The report's mortality estimates likewise should be kept separate from counts of cases detected through a particular campaign.

Facts to remember

• Report release: 12 November 2026.
• India’s estimated TB mortality decline since 2015: 38%; global decline: 35%.
• Treatment success: 94% among patients with drug-susceptible TB.
• Intensified screening period: 7 December 2024 to 8 November 2026; cases detected: 48.64 lakh, including 14.97 lakh asymptomatic cases.

Background

The Ni-kshay platform supports patient tracking, treatment monitoring and programme management. Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana provides nutritional assistance to eligible patients, while Ni-kshay Mitra mobilises additional community support. These measures connect diagnosis and treatment with follow-up and social support within the public-health response.

Why it matters for exams

For CLAT general awareness and government programmes, distinguish mortality, treatment outcomes and screening activity, and retain the population and time period attached to every figure.