It is followed by Maharashtra where 1,269 cases were reported till May as compared to 2008 when it topped the list of new cases at 4,714.

Andhra Pradesh, which had recorded the highest number of new cases among children in 2007 with 6,460 cases, this time till May showed a decline with 748 cases.

Last year, Delhi recorded a 3,807 new cases and since then it has registered 748 cases.

Only Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim reported no cases this year.

Azad said the number of Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres have been increased from 1,476 to 5,155, while facilities providing treatment increased from 52 to 217 over the three year period.

He further said nearly 758,600 HIV positive people were being provided services under the National AIDS Control Programme's third phase. The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), a state-run anti-AIDS agency, provides quality health care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

'Treatment facilities are available in 217 medical facilities where treatment is being provided with anti-retroviral drugs to 232,908 patients, of whom 14,474 are children,' the minister added.