Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB‑PMJAY) has recorded a major milestone as of 30 June 2026. The scheme has enabled 12.69 crore cashless hospital admissions worth ₹1.92 lakh crore, markedly lowering household health expenses.
Key Developments (as of 30 June 2026)
- 12.69 crore admissions authorized through a network of 37,413 public and private hospitals.
- Total claim value reached ₹1.92 lakh crore, all cashless.
- Scheme expanded in March 2024 to cover ~37 lakh families of ASHA, AWW and Anganwadi Helpers.
- In October 2024, coverage extended to 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, belonging to 4.5 crore families, irrespective of socio‑economic status.
- State/UT‑wise Ayushman card data is publicly available at the NHA dashboard.
Important Facts
The National Health Accounts estimates for 2022‑23 show that out‑of‑pocket expenditure fell from 62.6 % of total health spend in 2014‑15 to 43.4 % in 2022‑23. This decline reflects higher public investment and the expanding reach of AB‑PMJAY.
The scheme provides a coverage ceiling of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care, targeting the bottom 40 % of India’s population (≈12 crore families).
Exam Relevance
AB‑PMJAY is a flagship health‑insurance programme that illustrates:
- How central government policies address universal health coverage (GS3: Health, GS2: Polity).</