J.P. Nadda to Lead National Launch of JOSH Teams Today at Bharat Mandapam

In a significant step towards further strengthening community participation in India’s fight against tuberculosis (TB), the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and the Ministry of Defence, will launch JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams on 8 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. In the first phase, JOSH Teams will be rolled out across 55 districts in 11 States, with the objective of strengthening youth-led community mobilisation and taking the message of TB Mukt Bharat to the grassroots.

Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, will lead the national launch of JOSH Teams in the presence of Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports; Shri Sanjay Seth, Minister of State for Defence; and Smt. Rekha Gupta, Chief Minister of Delhi. The event will bring together senior leadership and stakeholders from the participating Ministries, elected representatives, Class-I Officers, MY Bharat Volunteers, NCC Cadets and other stakeholders associated with India’s TB elimination efforts.

The programme will feature an achievement video highlighting key milestones of the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, followed by the formal launch of JOSH Teams. New Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials for the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan will also be launched. The event will further witness the launch of Khushi Avatar, an AI-powered chatbot, aimed at strengthening public awareness, community engagement and participation in the national effort towards TB elimination.