Overview The AB‑PMJAY has witnessed a massive expansion in its hospital network and utilisation as of 28 February 2026 . The scheme now covers 36,229 empanelled hospitals across India, authorising a total of 11.69 crore hospital admissions. Key Developments Empanelled hospitals increased more than five‑fold from 6,917 in FY 2018‑19 to 36,229 in 2026. Public‑sector participation rose to 19,483 hospitals; private‑sector participation stands at 16,746 hospitals (voluntary empanelment). Total authorised admissions reached 11.69 crore , with 6.74 crore occurring in private hospitals. Grievances are addressed via the CGRMS and a three‑tier redressal mechanism. Claims are settled within 15 days for intra‑state hospitals and 30 days for portability claims, as per guidelines of the NHA . Important Facts Under the scheme, empanelment is a continuous process driven by State/UT health agencies based on provider eligibility. Private hospitals join voluntarily, and once empanelled they cannot refuse treatment to eligible beneficiaries. Claims are adjudicated against clinical documents, investigation reports and standard treatment guidelines, ensuring uniformity and cost‑control. UPSC Relevance Understanding AB‑PMJAY is crucial for GS 2 (Polity) and GS 3 (Economy & Health) as it illustrates: The scale of India’s universal health coverage effort and its fiscal implications. Public‑private partnership dynamics in delivering health services. Governance mechanisms such as grievance redressal and claim settlement timelines, reflecting administrative efficiency. The role of the empanelled hospitals network in expanding access to secondary and tertiary care. Way Forward To sustain the momentum, the government may focus on: Strengthening monitoring of private‑hospital participation to ensure quality and prevent misuse. Enhancing the claim settlement turnaround time through digital verification and faster adjudication. Expanding the grievance redressal capacity of the CGRMS to address emerging issues promptly. Periodic review of empanelment criteria to incorporate emerging specialties and regional health needs. These steps will reinforce AB‑PMJAY’s objective of providing equitable, quality health care to India’s most vulnerable sections.