Overview On Friday, 06 February 2026 , District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) D.T. Sudharani addressed officials at the Collectorate, urging Chittoor to become a model district for effective control of Non‑Communicable Diseases (NCDs) . The meeting marked the launch of the STAR NCD Research Project of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) , implemented by the district medical and health department. The initiative targets the rising burden of diabetes, hypertension, asthma and other NCDs through scientific, community‑based interventions. Key Developments Development 1: The STAR NCD Project will strengthen the public health system by establishing dedicated NCD clinics in secondary hospitals, in partnership with the ICMR team. Development 2: In the first phase, NCD clinics, HbA1c testing facilities, and spirometry services will be operational at Bangarupalem and P. Kothakota Community Health Centres (CHCs). Development 3: The project’s initial coverage includes the mandals of S.R. Puram, G.D. Nellore, Irala, and Bangarupalem , with plans for district‑wide expansion in subsequent phases. Important Facts Fact 1: The launch ceremony featured the release of registers and awareness posters, underscoring the emphasis on community mobilisation. Fact 2: The project aligns with national NCD control strategies such as the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) , and leverages ICMR’s research expertise for evidence‑based interventions. UPSC Relevance This development is pertinent to GS Paper II (Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice) and GS Paper III (Science & Technology, Health, Environment) . Aspirants can be asked to analyse the role of research institutions like ICMR in policy implementation, evaluate state‑level health innovations, or discuss challenges in scaling NCD programmes across diverse districts. Comparative questions may link Chittoor’s model with other state initiatives under the NPCDCS framework. Way Forward For sustained impact, Chittoor must ensure continuous capacity building of health personnel, robust data monitoring through the ICMR portal, and integration of NCD services with existing primary health care. Expansion to all mandals should be accompanied by community‑centric awareness drives, affordable diagnostic services, and linkage with national insurance schemes such as Ayushman PM. Successful replication can provide a template for other districts aiming to curb the NCD epidemic.