- JOSH Teams launch on 8 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- First phase covers 55 districts in 11 States
- Teams combine Class-I Officers, MY Bharat Volunteers and NCC Cadets
- Khushi Avatar, an AI-powered chatbot, to be launched at the event
- In 2025, 67,933 Panchayats across 697 districts were recognised as TB Mukt
JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams, a youth-led push against tuberculosis, will be launched nationally on 8 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The first phase covers 55 districts in 11 States.
The Union Health Ministry is launching the teams with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Ministry of Defence. The aim is to take the TB Mukt Bharat message to the grassroots.
Who will be at the launch
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda will lead the launch. Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will attend, along with Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Senior officials, elected representatives, Class-I Officers, MY Bharat Volunteers and NCC Cadets will also take part.
The programme begins with a video on key milestones of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan. New information, education and communication (IEC) material for the campaign will also be launched.
An AI-powered chatbot, Khushi Avatar, will go live at the event. It is meant to raise public awareness and encourage people to take part in TB elimination.
How the teams will work
The teams will bring together Class-I Officers, MY Bharat Volunteers and NCC Cadets. They will pair administrative leadership with the youth networks of MY Bharat and NCC.
In the first phase, the teams will work at Block/Ward and community level. They will reach people at home, at work and in their daily lives, beyond health facilities.
They will spread information on TB symptoms, prevention, timely diagnosis and completing treatment. They will also tackle myths, reduce stigma and urge families and communities to join the campaign.
Building on community action
In 2025, 67,933 Panchayats across 697 districts were recognised as TB Mukt. The recognition reflected work by health workers, elected representatives, community members and volunteers.
The Health Ministry will provide the overall public health and TB elimination framework. The Youth Affairs ministry will help MY Bharat Volunteers take part in community outreach, and the Defence ministry will do the same for NCC Cadets.
