One of the significant achievements of NACP is a credible HIV sentinel surveillance system. Information gathered through HIV sentinel surveillance, behavioural sentinel surveillance and STD surveillance helps in tracking the epidemic and provides the direction to the programme. Under NACP-III, PPTCT surveillance and ANC surveillance system are planned to be included in the programme.

Surveillance for HIV infection comprises of four broad areas: HIV Sentinel Surveillance, AIDS Case Surveillance, Behavioural Surveillance and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Surveillance. HIV Surveillance closely monitors and tracks the level, spread and trends of the epidemic as well as the risk behaviours that predispose the growth of epidemic. Inputs from the robust sentinel surveillance system of India, routine AIDS Case reporting, and periodic behavioural surveillance surveys give direction to the programmatic efforts by showing the impact of the interventions and areas that need focus of different initiatives.

"The HIV Sentinel Surveillance System of India has greatly evolved over time covering all the districts of the country as well as all the high risk population groups. Annual HIV Sentinel Surveillance is conducted among Pregnant women attending Antenatal clinics, Patients attending STI Clinics, Female Sex Workers, Injecting Drug Users, Men who have Sex with Men, Migrant Population, Long distance Truckers, Eunuchs and Fisherfolk. Based on HIV Sentinel Surveillance data, all the districts in the country are categorised into four categories for priority attention in the programme.(For more information read HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2006 India Country Report, HIV Fact Sheets, District Categorisation for Priority Attention)."

Estimation of HIV Prevalence and the number of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) is done annually that gives the scenario of HIV epidemic at the national as well as the sub-national levels. (For more information read Technical Report on HIV Estimation, 2006.) AIDS Case Reporting from all the States through monthly reporting formats provides inputs on the distribution of reported full-blown AIDS cases in the country as well as the proportional significance of different routes of transmission. (For more information read Note on AIDS Cases in India.)

Behavioural Surveillance Surveys (BSS) throw light on the knowledge, awareness and behaviours related to HIV/AIDS among general population, youth as well as among different high risk group communities. It also provides rich inputs to understand the impact of the intervention efforts being undertaken through NACP. (For more information read National BSS 2006.)

Operational Guidelines for HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2008