The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will launch Joint Squad for Health (JOSH) Teams nationally on 8 October 2026. The launch will take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with Union Minister J.P. Nadda leading the event.
National Rollout and Objectives
The initiative is being undertaken by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Defence. Its initial rollout will cover 55 districts in 11 states. JOSH Teams are intended to strengthen youth-led community mobilisation and take the TB Mukt Bharat message to the grassroots. Their stated objective is to support tuberculosis elimination through awareness generation, social mobilisation and community engagement. The initiative provides a structured platform for young people to participate in these activities.
Team Composition and Public Outreach
Each team will bring together Class-I officers, MY Bharat volunteers and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets. The composition combines administrative officers with youth volunteer networks and community outreach. The national launch will include the unveiling of new Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. An AI-powered chatbot named “Khushi Avatar” will also be launched to support public awareness about tuberculosis. In 2025, 67,933 Panchayats across 697 districts were recognised as TB Mukt. Panchayats are institutions of rural local self-government under the Panchayati Raj system.
Tuberculosis and India’s Elimination Programme
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by “Mycobacterium tuberculosis”. It most commonly affects the lungs and spreads through the air when a person with pulmonary TB coughs or sneezes. TB can also affect other parts of the body. India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) was previously known as the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme. It was renamed NTEP in 2020. The Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used to protect against severe forms of childhood tuberculosis.
Important Facts for Exams
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- Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme was formerly called the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme.
- The Bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccine is primarily administered to protect children against severe forms of tuberculosis.
- The 2025 TB Mukt recognition covered 67,933 Panchayats in 697 districts.
The JOSH Teams launch is scheduled for 8 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam. The initial rollout covers 55 districts across 11 states.
