India records 91,783 new leprosy cases in 2025-26, exceeding NLEP target by 91.6%
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains·
Public health and epidemiological surveillance: a GS2 case study on leprosy eradication challenges.
Why in news
The Union Health Ministry reported that India recorded 91,783 new leprosy cases in 2025-26, significantly exceeding the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) target for child cases.
Background
India recorded 91,783 new leprosy cases in 2025-26 with a prevalence rate of 0.56 per 10,000 population. The number of new child cases (3,832) exceeded the NLEP target of 2,000 by 91.6%, while the national Grade-2 disability (G2D) rate stood at 1.34 per million.
Facts for Prelims
- BodyNLEP: National Leprosy Eradication Programme is the primary initiative for leprosy control in India.
- FactIndia recorded 3,832 new leprosy cases among children in 2025-26.
- FactThe NLEP target for new child cases is 2,000 per year.
- FactA district is considered to have interrupted transmission after reporting zero new indigenous child cases for five consecutive years.
- FactWHO considers new cases among children below 15 years as an indicator of recent transmission.
Prelims practice question
With reference to the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) in India, consider the following statements:
- A district is considered to have interrupted transmission after reporting zero new indigenous child cases for five consecutive years.
- The NLEP target for new child leprosy cases is 3,000 per year.
- The WHO considers new cases among children above 18 years as an indicator of recent transmission.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a)1 only
- (b)1 and 2 only
- (c)2 and 3 only
- (d)1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 only — Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: The NLEP target for new child cases is 2,000. Statement 3 is incorrect: WHO considers new cases among children below 15 years as an indicator of recent transmission.
For Mains
Q. Critically analyze the challenges in achieving the National Strategic Plan for Leprosy 2023-27 despite existing eradication programs.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Diagnostic lag: High Grade-2 disability rates among new cases indicate delayed detection and lack of early screening.
- Transmission persistence: High child caseload suggests ongoing community transmission despite district-level interruption goals.
- Target misalignment: Significant variance between NLEP targets and actual reported cases highlights gaps in rural healthcare reach.
Keywords: Epidemiological surveillance · Delayed diagnosis · Transmission interruption · Public health infrastructure · National Strategic Plan
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.