Overview The NACO has highlighted a large gap between reported and estimated HIV cases. At a ‘Mission AIDS Suraksha’ workshop in Vijayawada, Additional Secretary and Director‑General Dr. Rakesh Gupta urged states to adopt a three‑tier strategy to locate the missing patients and move towards a Suraksha India vision. Key Developments India has ~ 16 lakh registered HIV cases, whereas the epidemiological estimate is ~ 25 lakh . Andhra Pradesh’s estimated burden is 3,10,000 cases; only 2,76,000 are currently identified. Gupta set a deadline of 1 December (World AIDS Day) for states to close the identification gap. Similar workshops have been conducted in Assam and Karnataka to replicate the strategy. State AIDS Control Society Project Director K. Neelakantha Reddy reported that 89 % of Andhra Pradesh’s estimated cases are now identified, with 86 % on antiretroviral therapy. Important Facts The three‑tier identification strategy involves: Community‑level screening and counseling by grassroots health workers. Facility‑based confirmatory testing at district hospitals. Linkage to treatment centres for antiretroviral therapy (ART) and regular monitoring of viral load . Regular ART reduces viral load, improves patient health, and curtails transmission, thereby easing the socioeconomic burden on families. UPSC Relevance Understanding India’s HIV response touches upon multiple GS papers: GS‑3 (Health) : Public‑health infrastructure, disease surveillance, and the role of central‑state coordination. GS‑2 (Polity) : Administrative hierarchy (e.g., Additional Secretary, State AIDS Control Society) and inter‑governmental mechanisms. GS‑4 (Ethics) : Stigma reduction, rights of people living with HIV, and equitable access to treatment. Way Forward To achieve the Suraksha India goal, the following steps are essential: Accelerate the three‑tier identification model across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories. Strengthen supply‑chain logistics for ART to ensure uninterrupted medication. Enhance community‑engagement programmes to combat stigma and encourage voluntary testing. Utilise digital health platforms for real‑time tracking of case identification and treatment adherence. Monitor progress against the 1 December deadline and publish transparent state‑wise dashboards. Effective implementation will narrow the case‑identification gap, lower national HIV prevalence, and contribute to broader health‑security objectives.