World marks World AIDS Day on December 1 to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, honour those who have died, and support people living with the virus. First marked by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988, the day brings governments, communities, and individuals together worldwide to confront the epidemic. This year’s theme, “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” stresses safeguarding past progress while making HIV services more resilient, equitable, and community-led, particularly in the face of pandemics, conflicts, and systemic inequalities. In India, the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, is ramping up awareness campaigns, community outreach programmes, and policy initiatives to expand testing, strengthen prevention, improve treatment access, and tackle stigma against people living with HIV (PLHIV).
India’s Strategic Policy Measures
India has built a strong legal and policy framework to protect the rights of PLHIV and ensure access to care. The HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, prohibits discrimination, mandates informed consent for testing and treatment, and safeguards confidentiality. Through the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), India has steadily reduced new infections and expanded access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) over five phases, adapting strategies to cover prevention, testing, treatment, and sustainability.
The Evolution of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)
India began its AIDS control efforts focusing initially on raising awareness and identifying HIV cases between 1985 and 1991. The country gave the programme a major boost with the establishment of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) in 1992 under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, coordinating a nationwide response with state governments, NGOs, and community networks.
In the next phase, the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) was launched. Its first phase (NACP I, 1992–1999) aimed to slow the spread of HIV and reduce morbidity and mortality. Building on this, NACP II (1999–2006) strengthened India’s capacity to respond to the epidemic while continuing preventive measures in communities and among high-risk groups.
NACP III (2007–2012) focused on halting and reversing the epidemic. It introduced targeted prevention for high-risk populations, integrated care and treatment services, and established District AIDS Prevention and Control Units (DAPCUs) to coordinate local activities and monitor stigma and discrimination.
NACP IV (2012–2017), which was further extended to 2021, accelerated epidemic control, aiming for a 50% reduction in new infections compared to 2007 while ensuring comprehensive care for all people living with HIV (PLHIV). This phase saw the implementation of the HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, the Mission Sampark programme to trace and re-engage PLHIV lost to follow-up, the ‘Test and Treat’ policy to initiate ART for all diagnosed cases, and routine universal viral load monitoring.
The current phase, NACP V (2021–2026), launched as a central government scheme with an outlay of Rs. 15,471.94 crore, builds on past achievements to strengthen prevention, expand testing, and improve access to treatment. It aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, aiming to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, while promoting community-led interventions and government-led monitoring for lasting impact.
Awareness and Community Outreach
NACO drives awareness through multimedia campaigns, digital platforms, and social media, complemented by outdoor outreach using hoardings, bus panels, information kiosks, folk performances, and IEC vans. Community engagement includes training Self-Help Groups, Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, and Panchayati Raj members to promote behavioural change. Targeted interventions cover 1,587 projects across India (as of October 2025) to ensure equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment, and care. Nationwide thematic campaigns reduce stigma and promote inclusion of PLHIV in workplaces, healthcare facilities, schools, and communities. Ombudsmen appointed in 34 States/UTs address complaints of discrimination, reinforcing PLHIV rights.
Impact and Progress in Numbers
India’s HIV response shows a clear and consistent downward trend, with national prevalence falling from 0.33% in 2010 to 0.20% in 2024—far below the global estimate of 0.7%.
New infections have dropped sharply too: from 1.25 lakh in 2010 to 64,500 in 2024, marking a 49% reduction, outperforming the global decline of 40%. India now accounts for only about 5% of worldwide new cases, despite having a large population, reflecting strong public health outreach and wider access to ART services.
On the treatment front, India has recorded remarkable gains. AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 81.4%, dropping from 1.73 lakh in 2010 to 32,200 in 2024. This improvement is closely linked to the expansion of free ART for more than 1.8 million PLHIV, high retention rates of 94%, and 97% viral suppression, which significantly slows disease progression.
Globally, AIDS-related deaths remain high at 6.3 lakh in 2024, making India’s share barely 5%, powered by affordable generic medicines and strong community-based programmes.
Progress is also visible across service delivery indicators. Mother-to-child transmission has decreased by 74.6% since 2010. HIV testing has risen from 4.13 crore tests in 2020–21 to 6.62 crore in 2024–25, while ART coverage expanded from 14.94 lakh to 18.60 lakh PLHIV in the same period. Viral load testing almost doubled—from 8.9 lakh to 15.98 lakh tests, ensuring better monitoring and treatment outcomes nationwide.