Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, less commonly, by other organisms of the "tuberculosis complex". Globally, approximately 20 lac people die from TB each year--majority of them in developing countries. TB remains a major public health problem in India. Every year approximately 19 lac people develop TB and nearly 3.2 lac die from it. India accounts for one-fifth of global incidence of TB and tops the list of 22 high TB burden countries. TB kills more adults in India than any other infectious disease. In India, more than 40% of population is infected with TB bacilli.

TB affects the lungs in more than 85% of cases. This form of the disease is called pulmonary tuberculosis. TB of any organ other than the lungs, such as the pleura, lymph nodes, intestines, genitourinary tract, skin, joints and bones, meninges of the brain etc. is classified as extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.

Apart from the enormity of disease burden, globally TB control efforts are challenged by the expanding epidemic of HIV and drug resistant TB. The HIV epidemic is worsening the situation, increasing the number of tuberculosis cases.