Progressing Towards Universal Health Coverage
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is India's flagship financial protection health scheme, providing up to Rs. 5 lakh in annual cashless hospitalisation per family. Marking its eighth anniversary, the scheme covers roughly 33% of the population and works alongside Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, and PM-ABHIM to deliver universal health coverage.
Why It Matters
Important for competitive exam questions concerning major government welfare schemes, public healthcare pillars, and social security initiatives in India.
In Simple Words
Launched on September 23, 2018, AB PM-JAY provides cashless secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family for economically vulnerable citizens. It covers about 33% of India's population and is supported by complementary pillars like Ayushman Arogya Mandirs for primary care, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission for health IDs, and PM-ABHIM for health infrastructure.
The scheme's coverage has expanded over time to include groups such as ASHAs, anganwadi workers, and all senior citizens aged 70 and above. Funded jointly by the Centre and States based on specific sharing ratios, the overarching framework aims to reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket medical expenses and strengthen India's public health delivery system.
Key Points
- AB PM-JAY provides annual cashless hospitalisation coverage of up to Rs. 5 lakh per family.
- The scheme was launched on September 23, 2018, and marked its eighth anniversary.
- It covers about 33% of India's population with over 48.51 crore Ayushman cards (as of September 21, 2026).
- Beneficiary families are identified based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 criteria.
- The funding sharing ratio between the Centre and most States is 60:40, and 90:10 for North-Eastern States, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir.
- Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) was launched in September 2021 to create digital health IDs (ABHAs).
- PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) was launched on October 25, 2021, with a budget of Rs. 64,180 crore.
- The budget estimated for AB-PMJAY for 2026-27 is Rs. 9,500 crore.
Exam Angle
A. September 23, 2018
Source: Press Information Bureau