Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda today announced significant progress in India’s battle against HIV/AIDS, noting a 32% decline in new HIV infections and a 69% drop in AIDS-related deaths. Speaking at the World AIDS Day commemoration in New Delhi, he said that 85% of people living with HIV are now aware of their status, while treatment coverage has reached 88%.
Nadda attributed these improvements to strengthened diagnostics, wider availability of affordable medicines and the expansion of ART centres nationwide. He highlighted that under the Test and Treat policy, every diagnosed individual is immediately placed on lifelong therapy—an approach that has played a crucial role in reducing mortality. He also underscored the importance of the HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, which provides legal protection and promotes a discrimination-free environment for people living with HIV.
The minister further stressed the need for greater awareness around the risks of HIV transmission through drug use.
Marking the occasion, Nadda launched a national multimedia campaign aimed at boosting youth awareness, eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, and combating stigma and discrimination. He also unveiled several key programme documents, including the seventh edition of Sankalak, India HIV Estimates 2025, a Research Compendium, and Breakfree—a new IT-enabled virtual platform. Additionally, he interacted with frontline workers involved in HIV prevention efforts.
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