Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Calls for Mission‑Mode Action on India's Liver Epidemic and Metabolic Disorders

On 3 July 2026, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the 3rd anniversary of the InFLiMeN at the ILBS . He warned that India’s rising liver disease and Type‑2 diabetes are part of a larger metabolic nexus and require a mission‑mode, preventive‑health response. Key Developments Minister highlighted the surge in fatty liver, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance, now appearing in younger adults and adolescents. Emphasised the need for early‑diagnostic tools, a National Liver Biobank, and affordable community‑level screening. Called for synergy between DST , biotechnology, the Genome Mission , and AI to enable precision medicine . Urged medical professionals, researchers, civil society and media to promote scientifically validated health practices and counter misinformation. Important Facts India’s unique metabolic profile—genetic predisposition, higher central obesity and the "Indian phenotype"—makes its population vulnerable to diabetes and fatty liver even at lower BMI. The Minister noted that lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diet, irregular sleep, stress and pollution are stressing the liver, the body’s most resilient organ. The event was attended by senior figures including NITI Aayog former member Dr Vinod Paul , French scientific attachée Dr Silviane Pied , and ILBS leadership. UPSC Relevance Understanding the metabolic nexus links to GS‑3 topics on health, disease burden, and preventive healthcare. The role of ministries (<span class