India, Sept. 25 -- India has witnessed a sharp 26.4% surge in cancer incidence rates over the past three decades, climbing from 84.8 cases per 100,000 people in 1990 to 107.2 in 2023, a landmark study published in The Lancet revealed on Wednesday.

The country's cancer mortality rates have simultaneously risen 21.2%, increasing from 71.7 deaths per 100,000 in 1990 to 86.9 in 2023, mirroring global trends that show accelerating cancer burden despite medical advances.

In relative terms, India ranks 168th out of 204 nations for cancer death rates, suggesting that while absolute numbers are rising due to population growth and ageing demographics, India's age-adjusted rates remain lower than most countries worldwide.

Dr PK Julka, former head...