Prime Minister Highlights Transformative Success and Global Impact as Ayushman Bharat Marks Eight Years of Healthcare Delivery
Distilled Policy Brief
- Ayushman Bharat completed eight years of implementation, delivering an annual health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family to over 60 crore beneficiaries, making it the world's largest government-funded health coverage scheme.
- Grassroots primary healthcare under the initiative has seen over 500 crore footfalls at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, significantly reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses for low- and middle-income families.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Ayushman Bharat combines secondary/tertiary inpatient care insurance (PM-JAY up to Rs 5 lakh per family/year) with primary healthcare delivery via Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Evaluate the efficacy of Ayushman Bharat in mitigating catastrophic Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) and achieving Universal Health Coverage (SDG 3.8) in India.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, consider the following statements: 1. It provides an annual health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family, making it the world's largest government-funded health coverage scheme. 2. The scheme has benefited more than 60 crore individuals, significantly reducing the out-of-pocket medical expenditure for low- and middle-income families. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- [A] 1 only
- [B] 2 only
- [C] Both 1 and 2
- [D] Neither 1 nor 2
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Both statements are correct based on the official data marking the completion of eight years of the Ayushman Bharat initiative. The scheme delivers an annual health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family to over 60 crore beneficiaries, making it the world's largest government-funded health coverage scheme and substantially easing out-of-pocket medical expenses.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.