The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, working with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Defence, will formally launch JOSH (Joint Squad for Health) Teams on 8 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The initiative is designed to strengthen grassroots participation in India’s TB Mukt Bharat (TB Free India) campaign by mobilising young people and government officials to carry TB awareness and prevention messages to communities.
JOSH Teams will operate as structured units bringing together Class-I civil service officers, MY Bharat Volunteers and National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets. In the first phase, these teams will be deployed across 55 districts spread across 11 states, focusing on block and ward level engagement to reach people in their localities.
Key facts
- Launch date: 8 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
- First phase coverage: 55 districts across 11 states
- Participating ministries: Health and Family Welfare; Youth Affairs and Sports; Defence
- Composition: Class-I Officers, MY Bharat Volunteers, NCC Cadets
- Baseline achievement: 67,933 Panchayats across 697 districts recognised as TB Mukt in 2025
- Additional launch: Khushi Avatar, an AI-powered chatbot for TB awareness
- New IEC materials: Information, Education and Communication resources for TB Mukt Bharat campaign to be released
What JOSH Teams will do
JOSH Teams will work at the community level to disseminate information about TB symptoms, prevention methods, timely diagnosis and the importance of completing TB treatment. The teams will address common myths and misconceptions about tuberculosis, which often prevent people from seeking early treatment.
By combining the administrative authority of Class-I officers with the extensive community networks of MY Bharat Volunteers and the reach of NCC cadets, JOSH Teams aim to connect government health programmes with ordinary citizens. The initiative recognises that awareness and behaviour change require sustained engagement beyond health facilities, reaching people in their homes, workplaces and community spaces.
The teams will also work to reduce TB-related stigma, which remains a barrier to diagnosis and treatment in many communities. By encouraging families and communities to actively participate in TB elimination efforts, the initiative seeks to create a social movement around health.
How JOSH Teams fit into India’s TB elimination strategy
The TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan is India’s national campaign to eliminate tuberculosis. In 2025, the government recognised 67,933 village councils (Panchayats) across 697 districts as TB Mukt, meaning they have achieved specific milestones in TB testing, treatment and prevention. JOSH Teams build on this foundation by institutionalising youth participation in the campaign.
The initiative represents a “whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach” by coordinating three separate ministries. The Health Ministry provides the public health framework and TB elimination strategy, the Youth Affairs Ministry brings MY Bharat Volunteers who work on grassroots social issues, and the Defence Ministry contributes NCC cadets who have training in discipline and community engagement.
The Khushi Avatar chatbot
As part of the launch, the government will release Khushi Avatar, an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot designed to answer public questions about TB, provide information on symptoms and treatment, and encourage people to seek diagnosis and care. This digital tool aims to complement ground-level efforts by JOSH Teams.
What this means for you
If you live in one of the 55 districts covered in the first phase, you may encounter JOSH Teams in your locality conducting TB awareness activities. These teams can provide reliable information about TB prevention and treatment, address your concerns about the disease, and guide you to health services if needed.
For young people, the initiative offers a structured platform to contribute to a national health priority. MY Bharat Volunteers and NCC cadets can participate in health mobilisation work that builds skills and creates community impact.
For health workers and local government officials, JOSH Teams provide additional support for TB elimination efforts by strengthening community engagement and reducing the burden of solo awareness campaigns.
What happens next
The national launch event on 8 October 2026 will feature remarks from Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and other senior government leaders. The event will showcase achievements of the TB Mukt Bharat campaign and release new communication materials. After the launch, JOSH Teams will be operationalised across the 55 districts in their respective states.