India has a population of one billion, around half of whom are adults in the sexually active age group. The first AIDS case in India was detected in 1986, and since then HIV infection has been reported in all States and Union Territories.

The spread of HIV in India has been diverse, with much of India having a low rate of infection and the epidemic being most extreme in the southern half of the country and in the far north-east. The highest HIV prevalence rates are found in Maharashtra in the west; Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in the south; and Manipur and Nagaland in the north-east.

As of July 2005, 92% of all nationally reported AIDS cases have been found in 10 of the 38 States Union Territories. The greatest numbers were in Maharashtra and Gujarat in the west; Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the south; and Manipur and West Bengal in the north-east.

AIDS Data for End of July 2005