Observer Research Foundation | Framing an Integrated Approach to India’s Dual Burden of TB and Air Pollution

28 September 2026

Observer Research Foundation policy analysis

India continues to grapple with the simultaneous and related challenges of managing the incidence of TB and arresting air pollution. In 2024, India accounted for about one-fourth of newly diagnosed TB cases globally; at the same time, most Indian cities exceed World Health Organization air-quality guidelines and often breach national air pollution standards too. Both TB and air pollution exposure are significant contributors to morbidity and mortality. Evidence increasingly also suggests that air quality impacts TB incidence, progression, and treatment outcomes. However, current national policies address the two issues separately, limiting coordinated interventions.

Observer Research Foundation published a paper analyzing India’s current policy frameworks and making recommendations for comprehensive research, strengthened multi-sectoral coordination, improved surveillance integration, and targeted policy reforms.

Read the full analysis here.

Source: Observer Research Foundation