Leprosy prevalence down to 0.57 per 10,000
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What happened
- Leprosy prevalence fell from 57.2 per 10,000 in 1981 to 0.57 in 2025; child cases among new cases fell from 9.04% (2014-15) to 4.68% (2024-25) [PIB].
- By March 2025, 31 states and 638 districts had prevalence below 1 per 10,000, sustaining national elimination status [PIB].
Background
- Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is caused by Mycobacterium leprae and spreads through droplets during close, frequent contact with untreated cases [PIB].
Why it matters
- Child cases show ongoing transmission; stigma delays reporting.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2025-10-05): leprosy prevalence fell from 57.2 per 10,000 in 1981 to 0.57 in 2025; child cases among new cases fell from 9.04% (2014-15) to 4.68% (2024-25).
- Child cases show ongoing transmission; stigma delays reporting.
Quotable data pointBy March 2025, 31 states and 638 districts had prevalence below 1 per 10,000, sustaining national elimination status.
PIB: PIB Backgrounder: Leprosy in India, 5 Oct 2025
Exam angle
UPSC
Prelims: leprosy facts.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Practice · UPSC
Leprosy prevalence in 2025
Answer (a) & explanation
PIB.
Practice · UPSC
Causative agent
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB.
Practice · UPSC
Elimination threshold used
Answer (a) & explanation
PIB.
Go deeper
ExplainerOne Health Approach: Why Human, Animal and Environmental Health Are Linked, Zoonotic Diseases, the Global Quadripartite and India’s National One Health Mission (UPSC Notes + PYQs)ExplainerAntimicrobial Resistance (AMR): How Superbugs Arise, the Global and Indian Burden, Causes in Hospitals, Farms and the Environment, and India’s National Action Plan 2.0 (UPSC Notes + PYQs)
Official source: PIB: PIB Backgrounder: Leprosy in India, 5 Oct 2025
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending