New HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, also known as 'annual new HIV incidence rate', stood at 0.05 nationally in 2024, a report released on Monday (December 1, 2025) said. Mizoram (0.90) reported the highest estimated new HIV incidence, followed by Nagaland (0.42) and Tripura (0.28), the India HIV estimate 2025 technical report further said.

Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya were other States with an incidence rate of 0.20 or higher. Annual new cases declined nationally by around 48.70% between 2010 and 2024, but increased by more than 400% in Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura. Globally, annual new infections had declined by 40% between 2010 and 2024.

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The report added that the annual AIDS-related mortality rate per 1,00,000 population was estimated nationally at 2.32, with Manipur topping the list, followed by Mizoram and Nagaland.

"Annual AIDS-related deaths declined by 81.40% between 2010 and 2024. AIDS-related deaths have declined between 2010 and 2024 in nearly all States/Union Territories, except in Chandigarh, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura, where more PLHIV [People Living with HIV] died due to AIDS-related causes during 2024 as compared to 2010. Globally, annual AIDS-related deaths had declined by 54% between 2010 and 2024,'' said the report.

V. Hekali Zhimomi, Additional Secretary and Director-General, National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) noted in the report that the 2025 round of HIV estimates reaffirms that the epidemic remains low in the country.

"Between 2020 and 2024, the country has achieved a 19.4% decline in annual new HIV infections, a 30.6% reduction in AIDS-related mortalities, and a 63.7% drop in vertical transmission rates. In comparison, global reductions during the same period stands at 13.3%, 14.9%, and 16.7%, respectively,'' she noted.

The report further estimated that India had around 25.61 lakh PLHIV in 2024. The adult HIV prevalence was 0.20% -- 0.21% among males and 0.19% among females -- and among the young population (15-24 years) 0.06%.

Two States -- Mizoram and Nagaland -- had an estimated HIV prevalence of more than 1%. Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Telangana, and Meghalaya had estimated adult prevalence higher than 0.40%.

"Maharashtra (3.99 lakh) had the highest PLHIV size followed by Andhra Pradesh (3.10 lakh) and Karnataka (2.91 lakh). Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat, and Punjab were other States with estimated PLHIV in the range of 1 lakh to 2 lakh. Together, these nine States have 74% of the total PLHIV burden in India,'' added the report.

New HIV cases highest in Mizoram; fresh infections drop nationally by 48% from 2010-2024: report