Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem. Multi Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB) and Extensively Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB) cause high mortality. There are obstacles to the diagnosis of TB due to lack of accurate, cost effective and rapid diagnostic tools. The delay in diagnostic process is an unresolved bottleneck impeding access to treatment. Presently available diagnostic tools for TB except some liquid culture and molecular tests take long time. TB culture and drug susceptibility test (DST) need specialized laboratory setup and are also very expensive. The New Diagnostics Working Group (NDWG) on TB is supporting development of new tools and also provides information to World Health Organization (WHO) for endorsement. Globally, TB control programmes need rapid and accurate diagnostic tools, which are to be implemented in peripheral health centers as well. In this review, we describe development of newer diagnostic tools, their endorsement status and usage in TB diagnosis.