Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has announced integrated strategy to achieve 'TB Mukt Bharat' and said that the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is going to play an important  part in this integrated holistic healthcare approach against elimination of Tuberculosis (TB), in keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment of ‘TB Mukt Bharat’ by 2025.

The Minister declared commencement of the pilot phase of Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium (InTGS) with successful completion of whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 182 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) isolated from TB patients and development of a novel blood bag technology at DBT-InStem, Bengaluru. 

Presentations on new initiatives on improving Tuberculosis outcomes – a) AYUSH interventions to improve TB patient quality-of-life (QOL) b) Mapping drug resistance through genomics & artificial intelligence (AI) and novel blood bag technology to enhance quality and shelf life of stored blood, were made while Dr Jitendra Singh was interacting with the press on Bio-Next-Tech Innovations.

Indian Tuberculosis Genomic Surveillance Consortium (InTGS), one of the key components of the programme, is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Science & Technology and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, led by the Department of Biotechnology. The aim is to perform WGS of 32500 strains of TB.

Dr Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology stated that InTGS is modelled on the lines of the highly successful Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of AYUSH and DBT, conducting high impact research studies on Ayurveda intervention as adjuvant to Anti TB therapy (ATT) for improving quality of life, managing cachexia, bio-enhancing of ATT and hepato-protection is being planned.