According to the Malaria Elimination Technical Report, 2025, urban malaria has become a significant national issue, challenging India's goal of eradicating malaria by the year 2030.
Malaria is a severe mosquito-borne illness that primarily affects tropical and subtropical regions globally. The disease is caused by single-celled parasites from the Plasmodium genus, transmitted to humans through bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
This disease leads to considerable illness and mortality, with long-term health complications in some cases, placing a significant burden on public health systems.
Malaria is both preventable and treatable. Early diagnosis and appropriate antimalarial medications can effectively cure the disease, reducing its impact on communities.
India has set an ambitious target to achieve zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027 and complete elimination by 2030. This mission is guided by the National Framework for Malaria Elimination in India (2016–2030), which outlines phased strategies, goals, and timelines. Furthermore, the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination (2023–2027) builds on earlier frameworks and aligns with the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria (2016–2030).
The Anopheles stephensi mosquito has emerged as a major invasive species thriving in urban settings. It breeds in artificial water containers like overhead tanks and construction sites, making urban areas particularly vulnerable. This mosquito effectively transmits Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, presenting a formidable challenge to malaria control efforts.
Persistent malaria transmission is driven by factors such as asymptomatic infections, challenging terrain, high population density, and human mobility.
Although India has largely entered the pre-elimination phase, malaria remains in localized pockets influenced by ecological conditions, occupational exposure, vector behavior, health system access, and population movement. Significant malaria burden continues in districts of Odisha, Tripura, and Mizoram, with cross-border transmission from Myanmar and Bangladesh posing a challenge for northeastern border districts.
Active surveillance has been enhanced in tribal and forested regions, border areas, and among migratory populations where the risk of residual transmission remains high. Over the past decade, India has made notable progress, reducing malaria cases from 1.17 million in 2015 to approximately 227,000 in 2024. Malaria-related deaths have declined by nearly 78% during this period.
Major challenges include inconsistent reporting from the private healthcare sector, limited entomological capacity, emerging drug and insecticide resistance, and gaps in diagnostics and treatment availability in remote areas.
Strengthening surveillance systems, improving vector monitoring, and ensuring reliable supply chains have emerged as top priorities. Operational research is critical for accelerating malaria elimination efforts. Key research areas include asymptomatic infections, the ecology and control of Anopheles stephensi, drug and insecticide resistance, and optimizing treatment regimens for Plasmodium vivax.
Q1. What is malaria and how is it transmitted?
Answer: Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus, transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Q2. What are the current goals of India regarding malaria elimination?
Answer: India aims to achieve zero indigenous malaria cases by 2027 and complete elimination by 2030, guided by strategic frameworks and plans.
Q3. Why is urban malaria a concern in India?
Answer: Urban malaria poses a challenge due to the presence of invasive species like Anopheles stephensi, which thrive in cities, increasing transmission risk.
Q4. How has India made progress in malaria control?
Answer: India has reduced malaria cases significantly over the past decade, from 1.17 million in 2015 to about 227,000 in 2024, while decreasing malaria-related deaths by nearly 78%.
Q5. What challenges does India face in malaria elimination efforts?
Answer: Major challenges include inconsistent healthcare reporting, limited capacity for entomological research, emerging resistance to treatments, and gaps in service availability in remote areas.
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