Union Health Minister Chairs High-Level Virtual Review Meeting of TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan with all States and UTs; Calls for Push Towards a TB-Free India

1. At a Glance

• TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (TBMBA) is India's flagship campaign to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025, five years ahead of the UN SDG Target 3.3 (2030). [2][3]
• Implemented through the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). [3]
• Aspirants must know its components — Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA), Nikshay Mitra, and the 100-Day Intensified Campaign. [1][2][3]

2. Why in the News

• Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda chaired a high-level virtual review meeting with all States/UTs on the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, urging "every missing TB case must be found." [1]
• Cumulative milestone reported: >28 crore screened, 20 lakh given TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), 5.7 lakh new Nikshay Mitras added under the Intensified 100-Day Abhiyan since December 2024. [1]
• Phase II of the Abhiyan (since 24 March 2026) covered >1.2 lakh high-risk villages/wards/congregate settings through >1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Shivirs. [1]
• X-ray screening increased 34-fold due to mass deployment of handheld X-ray machines. [1]

3. Background & Evolution

• 1962: National TB Programme (NTP) launched. [3]
• 1997: Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) rolled out with DOTS. [3]
• 2020: Renamed National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) — target advanced to 2025. [3]
• 9 September 2022: President Droupadi Murmu launched Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (PMTBMBA) with the Nikshay Mitra community-support initiative. [2]
• 7 December 2024: Launch of 100-Day Intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan at Panchkula, Haryana — covering 347 high-priority districts across 33 States/UTs. [4][5]
• 24 March 2026: Phase II commenced, focused on Ayushman Arogya Shivirs. [1]

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Central TB Division). [3]
• Programme: National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). [3]
• Target: TB elimination by 2025 (vs SDG 3.3 global target of 2030). [2]
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY): Monthly nutrition support raised from ₹500 to ₹1,000 via DBT; ₹3,202 crore disbursed to 1.13 crore beneficiaries. [3]
• Energy Dense Nutritional Supplementation (EDNS) for TB patients with BMI < 18.5 (~12 lakh patients). [3]
• Diagnostics deployed: 26,700+ X-ray units, including 500 AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices, with 1,000–1,500 more in pipeline. [5]
• 1,84,726 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs offer decentralised TB screening/diagnosis/treatment (as on 24 March 2026). [5]
• Phase I (100-Day) outcomes: 12.97 crore vulnerable screened, 7.19 lakh TB cases detected (incl. 2.85 lakh asymptomatic); >1 lakh new Nikshay Mitras; >2 lakh My Bharat volunteers mobilised. [4]
• Cumulative (Dec 2024 – Jun 2026): >28 crore screened, 20 lakh on TPT, 5.7 lakh new Nikshay Mitras. [1]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Social

• TB disproportionately affects urban poor, tribal, migrant, PLHIV, undernourished populations; campaign embeds contact tracing among household contacts, children, PLHIV. [4]
• Nikshay Mitra model (citizens, corporates, NGOs adopt patients) tackles stigma and nutritional gaps. [2]

Administrative / Governance

• Federal model: Centre-State 60:40 cost-sharing; ₹1,040 crore committed additionally. [3]
• Multi-sectoral convergence with line ministries (Tribal Affairs, Women & Child Development, Panchayati Raj). [4]

Scientific / Technological

• AI-enabled handheld chest X-rays → 34-fold rise in screening. [1][5]
• NAAT/CBNAAT molecular diagnostics; Nikshay portal for digital case tracking. [5]

Economic

• TB causes ~₹1 lakh crore productivity loss annually; DBT for nutrition ensures direct income support to patients. [3]

Ethical / Public Health

• Aligns with Article 21 (Right to Health) and DPSP Article 47 (duty of State to improve public health).
• Voluntary engagement via Nikshay Mitra fosters community responsibility. [2]

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• Dec 2024: 100-Day Intensified Abhiyan launched at Panchkula. [4][5]
• Mar 2025: World TB Day Summit 2025 inaugurated by Health Minister. [2]
• 24 March 2026: Phase II launched; >1.7 lakh Ayushman Arogya Shivirs held. [1]
• Jun 2026: Virtual review meeting — 28 crore+ screened, 20 lakh TPT, 5.7 lakh Nikshay Mitras. [1]

7. Prelims Hooks

• India's TB elimination target year: 2025. [2]
• SDG global TB elimination target: 2030 (SDG 3.3). [2]
• PMTBMBA launched by President Droupadi Murmu on 9 Sept 2022. [2]
• 100-Day Intensified Abhiyan launched at Panchkula, Haryana on 7 Dec 2024. [4]
• 100-Day campaign covered 347 districts in 33 States/UTs. [4]
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana monthly assistance raised to ₹1,000 (from ₹500). [3]
• NPY mode: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). [3]
• EDNS targeted at TB patients with BMI < 18.5. [3]
• Implementing programme: NTEP (renamed from RNTCP in 2020). [3]
• AI-enabled handheld X-ray units: 500 deployed, 1,000+ in pipeline. [5]
• Total Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: 1,84,726 (as on 24 March 2026). [5]
• Phase II of TBMBA started on 24 March 2026 (World TB Day). [1]
• Centre-State funding split for additional ₹1,040 cr commitment: 60:40. [3]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in health; issues relating to vulnerable sections.
• GS-III: Science & Technology — AI in public health diagnostics.
• Probable stems:
• "India's pledge to eliminate TB by 2025 is ambitious but achievable. Examine the strategies under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan."
• "Discuss the role of community participation (Nikshay Mitra) and technology (AI handheld X-rays) in advancing India's TB elimination goals."
• "Critically evaluate the convergence of nutrition support (Nikshay Poshan Yojana) with disease elimination programmes."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY & Ayushman Arogya Mandirs — service delivery backbone of TBMBA. [5]
• SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) — international benchmark.
• National Health Mission (NHM) — parent umbrella programme.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana — financial protection link.
• Anaemia Mukt Bharat / POSHAN Abhiyan — convergent nutrition focus.
• WHO End TB Strategy 2016–2035 — global framework.
• Universal Immunisation Programme (BCG) — preventive linkage.
• One Health Approach — zoonotic & airborne disease control.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Year confusion: India's target is 2025, not 2030 (which is global SDG).
• Programme name: It is NTEP (post-2020), not RNTCP.
• Launch authority for PMTBMBA: launched by President (not PM), despite "Pradhan Mantri" prefix.
• NPY amount: now ₹1,000/month (commonly mistaken as ₹500).
• Implementing ministry: MoHFW (not Ministry of AYUSH or NITI Aayog).
• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs = renamed HWCs (Health & Wellness Centres), not new institutions.