India Reaffirms Commitment to End AIDS by 2030: JP Nadda Highlights Major Milestones on World AIDS Day 2025

In his keynote address, Shri Nadda stated that World AIDS Day serves as a vital opportunity to reflect on progress, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate innovation for prevention and care.

Marking World AIDS Day 2025, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, inaugurated the national observance at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, reaffirming India’s strong commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

In his keynote address, Shri Nadda stated that World AIDS Day serves as a vital opportunity to reflect on progress, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate innovation for prevention and care. He emphasized that India’s approach under the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP-V) prioritizes a rights-based, stigma-free, and inclusive response, ensuring equality of access for all individuals affected by HIV.

Highlighting major achievements, the Union Health Minister shared that India has achieved remarkable reductions in HIV burden between 2010 and 2024:

• 48.7% decline in new HIV infections

• 81.4% reduction in AIDS-related deaths

• 74.6% decrease in mother-to-child transmission

• Testing coverage increased from 4.13 crore to 6.62 crore

• Number of individuals on ART treatment increased from 14.94 lakh to 18.60 lakh

• Viral load testing nearly doubled from 8.90 lakh to 15.98 lakh

These improvements, he stressed, outperform global trends—with India’s 69% decline in HIV-related deaths surpassing the global average of just 37%.

Shri Nadda acknowledged the significant contributions of the Indian pharmaceutical industry, which continues to supply affordable, life-saving antiretroviral drugs globally.

He further highlighted that every sub-division of each district in India now has access to ART Centres, ensuring early treatment access and improved retention in care. However, he cautioned that non-adherence and co-infection with tuberculosis remain challenges that require stronger community support, counseling, and awareness.

Reiterating India’s trajectory, Shri Nadda expressed confidence that the nation is firmly moving toward achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 global targets by 2030.

As part of the observance, the Minister launched several key initiatives and resources:

• National multimedia campaign focusing on youth awareness, eliminating mother-to-child transmission, and ending stigma

• The 7th edition of Sankalak

• India HIV Estimates 2025

• Research Compendium

• A digital youth platform Breakfree offering risk self-assessment, testing linkage, and confidential support services

The event also featured exhibitions showcasing digital solutions, community-led models, and youth-driven innovations such as Nagaland’s City Barn youth hub and Mumbai’s Fast-Track City programme.

Three technical experts and two individuals living with HIV were felicitated for their extraordinary contributions and resilience. Their stories highlighted the life-changing impact of treatment access, community support, and patient empowerment.

Speaking at the event, Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava noted that India’s HIV response has evolved from a small initiative into one of the world’s most influential public health programmes. She also reinforced the linkage between HIV response and national health campaigns, including the Intensified TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.

The programme concluded with a strong national call-to-action: building a future where HIV services are stigma-free, digitally accessible, youth-centered, and people-first—leaving no one behind.