In 2025, Delhi and Odisha joined the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

Launched in 2018, AB-PMJAY is a flagship initiative of the Government of India (GoI). In 2025, this scheme further expanded its coverage by including Delhi and Odisha.

Odisha:

In January 2025, the Odisha government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Health Authority (NHA) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to join AB-PMJAY as the 34th state or Union Territory (UT).

Delhi:

In April 2025, the Delhi government signed an MoU with the NHA and became the 35th state or Union Territory to join AB-PMJAY.

Not yet included: With this move, West Bengal (WB) is the only state that has not yet joined AB-PMJAY.

Features of AB-PMJAY

  • It has promoted digital health with 43.2 crore teleconsultations through e-Sanjeevani. 84.35 crore health accounts have been created under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
  • Progress in TB elimination has been recognized globally, with a 21% decline in incidence, and AI integration has strengthened public health delivery.
  • Since the inception of the scheme, approximately 42.48 crore Ayushman cards have been created, and a total of 10.98 crore hospitalizations have been authorized under the scheme so far, amounting to ₹1.60 lakh crore.
  • The scheme, which was expanded to provide free treatment up to ₹5 lakh per year through the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card, gained momentum in 2025, and so far, 94,19,515 people have enrolled under it.
  • The National Health Authority launched an Android-based 'Ayushman App' with a self-verification feature for beneficiaries. This app is developed using the latest technology and offers various authentication modes such as face authentication, OTP, IRIS, and fingerprint for generating Ayushman cards.

AB-PMJAY:

  • AB-PMJAY was launched on September 23, 2018, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
  • It is a health insurance program that provides cashless hospitalization coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care.
  • As of December 1, 2025, approximately 42.48 crore Ayushman cards have been issued since 2018, including 10.98 crore hospitalisations and total claims of ₹1.60 lakh crore under the scheme.

Ayushman Arogya Mandir:


It plans to establish 1,50,000 centers (formerly Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers) to provide comprehensive, free primary healthcare, including non-communicable diseases, palliative and rehabilitative care, oral, eye, ENT, and mental health services.
Implementation Structure

  • National Health Authority (NHA): An autonomous body chaired by the Union Health Minister.
  • State Health Authority (SHA): Led by a CEO appointed by the state government.
  • District Implementation Unit (DIU): Chaired by the District Collector/DC/DM.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day

  • ¨     December 12th, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, is the annual meeting point for the global movement for health for all. This marks the anniversary of the United Nations' historic and unanimous support for universal health coverage in 2012.

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets 17 comprehensive and interconnected goals for a greener, healthier, more peaceful, and equitable planet by 2030.

  • Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.