World Tuberculosis Day 2026: Theme, History and India’s NTEP
Why in the news
The world observed World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March 2026 with the theme ‘Yes! We Can End TB!’. The day raises awareness of the toll of TB and pushes for stronger action to end the global epidemic.
Key facts
- Date: 24 March every year.
- Theme 2026: ‘Yes! We Can End TB!’; one report adds the tagline ‘Led by Countries, Powered by People’.
- Historical link: It commemorates the anniversary of Dr Robert Koch announcing the TB bacterium in 1882.
- India: The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) is the primary national mission and follows a patient-first approach.
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Observed on | 24 March |
| Discovery commemorated | TB bacterium, by Dr Robert Koch, 1882 |
| 2026 theme | Yes! We Can End TB! |
| Indian programme | NTEP |
About the NTEP
The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme is India’s national effort to cut TB cases and deaths. It works through case finding, treatment support and a patient-centred model of care.
Exam angle
- Pair the date (24 March) with the discoverer (Robert Koch) and the year (1882).
- Each year’s theme is often asked as a one-line question in SSC and Banking papers.
- The Union Health Ministry’s TB programme is called NTEP; related 100-day campaign news was also reported on 24-25 March.