Ayushman Bharat is India’s flagship health programme, launched in 2018 on the recommendations of the National Health Policy, 2017, to move towards universal health coverage. It rests on two pillars: Health and Wellness Centres (renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in 2023) that deliver comprehensive primary care close to home, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), which gives about 12 crore poor and vulnerable families – roughly 55 crore people – cashless hospitalisation cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year in empanelled public and private hospitals.
Context
- On 11 September 2024 the Union Cabinet extended PM-JAY to all citizens aged 70 and above, irrespective of income, covering about 6 crore senior citizens in 4.5 crore families. They receive a separate Ayushman Vay Vandana card; families already under PM-JAY get an additional Rs 5 lakh top-up for the seniors, and seniors under other public schemes may choose PM-JAY.
- As of September 2024, over 35.4 crore Ayushman cards had been issued, about 7.7 crore hospital admissions worth Rs 1.07 lakh crore authorised – 3.61 crore of them for women – and about 30,500 hospitals empanelled.
- The scheme was then operating in 33 States and UTs; Odisha joined in January 2025 and Delhi in April 2025.
The Two Pillars
- Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Health and Wellness Centres): the first was inaugurated on 14 April 2018 at Jangla, Bijapur (Chhattisgarh). Sub-centres and primary health centres upgraded to provide 12 packages of care – maternal and child health, non-communicable disease screening, free drugs and diagnostics, tele-consultation – with a target of 1.5 lakh centres, which was crossed in 2023.
- PM-JAY: launched on 23 September 2018 at Ranchi. Cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation; no cap on family size or age; pre-existing conditions covered from day one; portable across the country; cashless and paperless at the point of care.
A clean PDF of this page with the C4S header — it opens right away, and the link comes to your WhatsApp too.
Who Is Covered and How It Works
- Beneficiaries identified from the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 deprivation criteria (rural) and occupational categories (urban), plus families from the earlier RSBY – the poorest 40 per cent of the population.
- Fully government-funded; cost shared between Centre and States in the 60:40 ratio (90:10 for north-eastern and Himalayan states).
- Implemented by the National Health Authority (NHA) at the Centre and State Health Agencies; hospitals are paid on package rates; treatment covers about 1,900 procedures including up to three days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation expenses.
- ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers were brought under PM-JAY in 2024.
Why It Matters
Free live session
NABARD Grade A 2026: 45-Day Final Revision Plan + Daily Targets
🔒 Register to watchLast Sunday’s session · recording8 of the top 10 in NABARD Grade A 2025, Rank 1 included, and Rank 1 back to back before that in 2021 and 2022: all prepared with C4S. Watch last Sunday's session on the 45-day final revision plan now, then join the next one live on Zoom.
In 8 days · Sun, 25 Oct at 7:30 PM IST · 75 minutes · free
- Hospital costs are the biggest cause of families falling into poverty; PM-JAY has reduced out-of-pocket spending for the poorest households.
- The 70+ expansion is the first age-based, income-neutral entitlement in the scheme, reflecting India’s ageing population.
Important Facts for Examsmost asked
- Ayushman Bharat: 2018, based on National Health Policy 2017; two pillars – Arogya Mandirs (first on 14 April 2018) and PM-JAY (23 September 2018, Ranchi).
- PM-JAY: Rs 5 lakh per family per year; about 12 crore families / 55 crore people; implementing body National Health Authority.
- Senior citizens 70+: Cabinet approval 11 September 2024; Ayushman Vay Vandana card; about 6 crore beneficiaries.
- Funding ratio Centre:State 60:40 (90:10 for NE and hill states).
FAQs
Is PM-JAY an insurance scheme?
It is a health assurance scheme: the government pays hospitals directly on fixed package rates, either through an insurer, a trust or a hybrid model chosen by the state.
Can a family with income above the poverty line get PM-JAY?
Only if it meets the SECC deprivation criteria or is included by the state; from 2024, every citizen aged 70 or more is covered regardless of income.
What is the difference between Ayushman Bharat and PM-JAY?
Ayushman Bharat is the umbrella programme; PM-JAY is its hospitalisation-cover component, alongside the primary-care Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
