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India Accounts for 25% Global DR-TB Burden (1.3-1.5 Lakh Annual Cases); Nikshay Portal & BPaLM Regimen Key to National Emergency Response

Social IssuesPolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
23 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:25% global DR-TB burden1.3-1.5 lakh annual new DR-TB cases21% decrease in TB incidence1,00,000 undetected TB cases/yearTreatment coverage 53% to 92%
Bodies:World Health Organization
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.India bears 25% of the global DR-TB burden with 1.3-1.5 lakh new cases annually, despite a 21% decrease in overall TB incidence.

2.Key challenges include uneven diagnostic access (CBNAAT/Xpert), toxic treatment side effects, and social determinants like poverty and stigma.

3.Examiners focus on India's DR-TB statistics, the Nikshay Portal for notification, newer regimens (BPaLM), and the public health implications of antimicrobial resistance.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

Despite progress, Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB) remains a major public health emergency in India, accounting for a quarter of the global burden. The crisis is worsened by diagnostic delays, toxic treatments, and social inequities. Tackling it requires political resolve for universal testing, newer regimens like BPaLM, and integrated survivor-centred care.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

India's Global DR-TB ShareAlmost a quarter (25%)
Annual New DR-TB Cases1.3-1.5 lakh (WHO, 2025)
TB Incidence Decline21% decrease in India
Undetected TB Cases/YearNearly 1,00,000
Treatment CoverageImproved from 53% to 92%

1-Minute Revision

  • ›India's Global DR-TB Share: Almost a quarter (25%)
  • ›Annual New DR-TB Cases: 1.3-1.5 lakh (WHO, 2025)
  • ›Target this Data: India's share of global DR-TB burden (~25%) and annual new cases (1.3-1.5 lakh).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: World Health Organization (WHO) for the Global TB Report and National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) for Nikshay Portal.
  • ›Target this Initiative: Nikshay Portal for TB case notification and the BPaLM regimen for DR-TB treatment.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which national programme in India is responsible for the Nikshay Portal used for TB case notification?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding Drug-Resistant TB in India:

1. India accounts for almost one-fourth of the global DR-TB burden.

2. The World Health Organization's 2025 report shows a 21% increase in TB incidence in India.

3. The newer BPaLM regimen for DR-TB is an all-oral and shorter-duration treatment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the WHO's Global Tuberculosis Report 2025 cited in the article, what is the estimated range of new Drug-Resistant TB cases emerging annually in India?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is identified in the article as a primary reason for the rapid spread of Drug-Resistant TB in certain communities?

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