Karnataka is evaluating a proposal to introduce mandatory HIV testing for college students, a move that could make it the first Indian state to implement such a screening program at the higher education level. The initiative is being reviewed by the state's Health Department in response to concerns about the increasing number of HIV diagnoses among young adults. The proposal follows recent data from the National AIDS Control Organisation indicating that Karnataka has the third-largest population of people living with HIV in India.
State estimates suggest that approximately 260,000 individuals are living with HIV, with nearly 205,000 currently receiving antiretroviral therapy. Health officials have identified individuals between 18 and 35 years of age as a priority population for intensified prevention and early diagnosis efforts. Reports indicating approximately 7,000 HIV cases among…
