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India is expected to record 1,533,055 new cancer cases in 2024, according to official estimates shared in Parliament on Friday.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav told the Lok Sabha that the figures come from the Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Cancer Registry Programme. He said the rise in reported cases is linked to better diagnostic facilities, longer life expectancy, and greater health awareness.
“Access and availability of improved diagnostic techniques, increased life expectancy, growing geriatric population, higher health consciousness, and improved health-seeking behaviour have contributed to the increase,” Jadhav said. He added that lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol use, poor diets, and low physical activity are also playing a role.
Data shows a steady increase in both cancer incidence and mortality over the past five years. In 2019, there were an estimated 1,358,415 new cases. By 2023, the number had risen to 1,496,972. Deaths have also grown from 751,517 in 2019 to 828,252 in 2023.
Estimated Cancer Incidence in India
| Year | Estimated New Cases |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1,358,415 |
| 2020 | 1,392,179 |
| 2021 | 1,426,447 |
| 2022 | 1,461,427 |
| 2023 | 1,496,972 |
| 2024 | 1,533,055 |
Estimated Cancer Mortality in India
| Year | Estimated Deaths |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 751,517 |
| 2020 | 770,230 |
| 2021 | 789,202 |
| 2022 | 808,558 |
| 2023 | 828,252 |
The government runs the National Programme for Non-Communicable Diseases, which focuses on prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of cancer and other chronic illnesses. As part of this, a national screening programme targets three common cancers: oral, breast, and cervical.
Jadhav said the programme also strengthens infrastructure and builds capacity at different levels of healthcare. “Our focus is on health promotion, early diagnosis, management, and referral of cases, along with behaviour change communication,” he said.
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