Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY)
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana — the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) is a flagship health protection scheme of the Government of India, launched on 23 September 2018 from Ranchi, Jharkhand. It aims to provide free, cashless and paperless access to quality healthcare to poor and vulnerable families across the country, working towards the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Scheme at a Glance
| Launched | 23 September 2018 |
| Lead Ministry | Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) |
| Implementing Body | National Health Authority (NHA) |
| Health Cover | ₹5 lakh per family per year |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme (Health sector) |
Two Pillars of Ayushman Bharat
- Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs / Ayushman Arogya Mandir): Upgraded sub-centres and primary health centres delivering comprehensive primary healthcare close to people's homes.
- PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Provides a health cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
Key Benefits
- Cashless and paperless treatment at empanelled public and private hospitals.
- Covers pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation expenses.
- No restriction on family size, age or gender.
- Pre-existing conditions covered from day one.
- Portable across the country — treatment can be taken in any empanelled hospital nationwide.
- Beneficiaries are identified based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.
- In 2024, the scheme was extended to provide cover to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above (Ayushman Vay Vandana), irrespective of income.
- Beneficiaries are issued an Ayushman Card for identification.
Practice MCQs
Q1. When was the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme launched?
a) 2016 b) 2017 c) 2018 d) 2019
Answer: c) 2018
Q2. What is the annual health cover provided per family under PM-JAY?
a) ₹1 lakh b) ₹3 lakh c) ₹5 lakh d) ₹10 lakh
Answer: c) ₹5 lakh
Q3. Which body implements the PM-JAY scheme?
a) NITI Aayog b) National Health Authority c) ICMR d) RBI
Answer: b) National Health Authority
Q4. Beneficiaries under PM-JAY are identified primarily on the basis of which database?
a) Census 2021 b) SECC 2011 c) NSSO survey d) Aadhaar data
Answer: b) SECC 2011
Q5. Under the 2024 expansion, free cover was extended to all senior citizens of which age group?
a) 60 years and above b) 65 years and above c) 70 years and above d) 75 years and above
Answer: c) 70 years and above