Patna: Bihar has recorded 114,461 new tuberculosis cases up to June 2026, the second-highest number among major states after Uttar Pradesh, according to data cited under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme.
Of the patients identified in Bihar this year, 21,550 did not show clear symptoms of TB, highlighting the challenge of detecting infections that may otherwise remain undiagnosed.
Uttar Pradesh recorded 337,282 new cases during the same period, followed by Bihar with 114,461, Maharashtra with 95,153, Rajasthan with 82,348 and Madhya Pradesh with 75,890.
Private Sector Reporting Expands
A significant increase in reported TB cases in Bihar has followed efforts to bring private hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers into the government reporting system.
For years, patients receiving treatment in the private sector were not consistently reflected in government records. After 2020, testing and case notification were expanded through greater cooperation with private agencies and medical institutions.
The expanded reporting has brought many previously unrecorded patients into the public health system. However, delays in reporting by some private doctors and chemists through the Nikshay portal remain a concern.
More Than 10 Lakh Cases Identified In Six Years
Data from the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme shows that 1,001,340 TB patients were identified in Bihar over the past six years.
Of these, 552,837 patients, or about 55 percent, had sought treatment or consultation from private hospitals and clinics.
Information on patients treated in the private sector has increased 24.5-fold over the past 12 years, indicating a substantial expansion in case notification and reporting.
Asymptomatic Patients Pose Detection Challenge
The scale of undetected TB in Bihar became clearer through the National TB Prevalence Survey conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research about five years ago.
The survey indicated that around 67 percent of TB patients in Bihar were receiving treatment in private hospitals, underlining the importance of private-sector participation in disease detection and reporting.
The identification of patients without obvious symptoms remains particularly important for controlling transmission. India had initially set a target of eliminating TB by 2025, but the target has now been extended to 2030.
Treatment Success Rate Reaches 88 Percent
Bihar has also recorded progress in treatment outcomes. The state’s TB treatment success rate has risen to 88 percent, while estimated TB-related mortality has declined.
The estimated mortality rate fell from 21 deaths per lakh population in 2023 to 20 per lakh in 2025.
As part of efforts to strengthen TB control at the local level, 547 panchayats in Bihar have been declared completely TB-free.
Factors Driving TB Transmission
Health officials and programme data point to several factors complicating TB control in Bihar, including gaps in the public healthcare system, dependence on private healthcare providers and shortages of health workers.
Delayed reporting by private practitioners can also hinder timely identification and treatment of patients.
Other challenges include asymptomatic infections, high population density and urbanisation, malnutrition, poverty, limited awareness and social stigma surrounding TB.
Migration is another concern, as patients may discontinue treatment or fail to complete their medication after moving between locations.
Bihar Ranks Second Among Major States
The available data shows Bihar consistently ranks among the states reporting the highest number of new TB cases.
| State | 2025 | 2026 (up to June) |
| Uttar Pradesh | 710,242 | 337,282 |
| Bihar | 221,692 | 114,461 |
| Maharashtra | 217,994 | 95,153 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 173,527 | 75,890 |
| Rajasthan | 163,522 | 82,348 |
| Gujarat | 131,850 | 65,307 |
| Delhi | 112,914 | 57,047 |
| Bengal | 101,644 | 48,888 |
The figures suggest that expanded testing and reporting in Bihar are continuing to identify patients who may previously have remained outside the formal health system. Ensuring that these patients receive timely and complete treatment will remain central to the state’s effort to meet the 2030 TB elimination target.
