Quick Overview
India has achieved a remarkable 21% decline in TB incidence between 2015 and 2024, according to the WHO Global TB Report 2025. Early detection, AI-enabled diagnostics, shorter drug-resistant TB regimens, and large-scale community screening under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) have accelerated progress. Despite this, India still struggles to meet its 2025 TB elimination target due to high disease burden, drug resistance, and systemic health gaps. Parallelly, India’s carbon emission growth has slowed in 2025 due to renewable energy expansion and structural improvements, while other health issues like Hepatitis A and surrogacy regulation continue to shape policy and public discourse.
WHO Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2025: India’s Progress and Challenges
Key Facts: India recorded a 21% drop in TB incidence (from 237 per lakh in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024), nearly twice the global decline. Mortality fell from 28 per lakh to 21 per lakh.
Drivers of Decline:
Early detection via molecular testing and AI-enabled handheld X-rays.
Shorter, all-oral drug regimens (BPaLM) for MDR-TB.
Extensive community screening under the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
Nutritional support through Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana.
Challenges: High TB burden, MDR/XDR-TB, delayed diagnosis in rural areas, co-morbidities (diabetes, HIV), private sector treatment gaps, and undernutrition.
Way Forward: Scale-up rapid diagnostics, patient-friendly drug regimens, integrate TB care with other health programmes, strengthen preventive therapy, restore post-Covid health infrastructure, and enhance public-private collaboration.
Surrogacy Law in India
Current Framework: Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 permits altruistic surrogacy for couples with proven infertility. Section 4(iii)(C)(II) restricts couples with existing children, except in cases of severe disability.
Challenges: Restrictions on reproductive autonomy, exclusionary eligibility rules, risk of emotional strain on surrogates, and lack of structured support mechanisms.
Reforms Needed: Rationalise eligibility criteria, ensure ethical safeguards, mandatory counselling, strengthen district and national boards, and adopt a rights-based approach aligned with Article 21.
India’s Carbon Emissions Trends (2025)
Fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions projected to rise by 1.4%, significantly lower than 2024.
Renewables constitute 50.07% of installed capacity; coal remains primary energy source but power-sector emissions fell by 1% in early 2025.
Key Factors: Strong monsoon reducing energy demand, rapid growth of solar and wind energy, improved energy efficiency.
LT-LEDS Framework: Clean electricity, low-carbon transport, climate-resilient urban planning, industrial decarbonisation, CO₂ removal, forest enhancement, and economic measures to achieve net-zero by 2070.
Other Relevant Updates
Hepatitis A: Emerging concern for acute liver failure; calls to include it in UIP. Transmission via faecal–oral route; vaccines provide 90–95% protection.
Strait of Hormuz: Strategic energy chokepoint; India depends on it for 40% of crude imports and 54% of LNG.
Ambaji Marble: Granted GI tag for unique quality; strengthens cultural and industrial identity.
Exercise Garuda 25: Bilateral air exercise with France highlighting strategic defence cooperation.
CLAT/Exam Relevance Summary
Health Policies & Social Justice: TB elimination strategies, NTEP, BPaLM regimen, Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana, Hepatitis A, Universal Immunisation Programme.
Law & Rights: Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, reproductive autonomy, Article 21 implications.
Environment & Climate: Carbon emission trends, renewable energy expansion, LT-LEDS framework, climate-resilient strategies.
International Affairs: Strait of Hormuz security, India–France military cooperation.
Economics & Policy: WPI deflation, implications for fiscal/monetary policies, renewable energy investment.