Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda participated in a national-level event organised in Greater Noida on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day 2026. He reiterated the country's firm and unwavering commitment to make India TB free even before the deadline for the Global Sustainable Development Goals.
The event highlighted India's sustained and multifaceted efforts to fight the comprehensive fight against TB through a robust public health system, increased community participation, and innovation and technology-based solutions.
World TB Day, observed on March 24 every year, is a global call to accelerate efforts to eradicate one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases—tuberculosis (TB).
The Union Health Minister launched a focused and intensive 'TB Mukt Bharat' campaign. The campaign is a decisive and mission-mode effort to accelerate progress towards TB elimination. 1.58 lakh villages and urban wards will be covered under this campaign. For each of these locations, micro-plans will be made as per local needs so that the campaign can be implemented with precision and its outcomes can also be clearly measured.
With a special focus on vulnerable populations such as the urban poor, tribal communities, and migrant groups, this initiative aims to address barriers to last mile access, early detection of TB, and ensure equitable access to TB services. This will significantly strengthen India's fight against TB at the grassroots level.
In the digital realm, the Union Minister launched the 'TB Mukt Bharat' app, which includes an Artificial Intelligence-enabled, multilingual chatbot named "Khushi". It is designed in such a way that it can be easily used even on entry-level smartphones. The platform provides real-time information about symptoms, facilities available, and nearby testing centres, helping to bridge the critical gap between the onset of symptoms and timely initiation of treatment.
Nadda also flagged off 'Ni-kshay Vahan'. The aim is to improve access to the last mile and improve access to TB screening and treatment services, especially in areas where these services are lacking.
