Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Completes Eight Years With Over 60 Crore People Covered

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana completed eight years on 23 September 2026. The scheme was launched on 23 September 2018 from Ranchi in Jharkhand. It now covers more than 60 crore people and is described as the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the anniversary. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released fresh performance figures on cards issued, treatments given and money spent. For exams, the scheme is a fixed favourite for questions on health policy, welfare delivery and Universal Health Coverage.

What Happened

On 23 September 2026, Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana completed eight years of operation. Fresh figures were released to mark the day. Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda said the scheme has transformed healthcare access for millions and now covers more than half a billion people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the scheme was rolled out with the idea that every Indian should get quality and affordable healthcare.

When & Where

The anniversary fell on 23 September 2026. The scheme itself was launched on 23 September 2018 from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. It is now running in all 36 States and Union Territories of India, which makes it a nationwide programme rather than a regional one.

Who Is Involved

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — nodal ministry for the scheme.
National Health Authority — the agency that implements PM-JAY at the national level.
State Health Agencies — run the scheme inside each State and Union Territory.
Jagat Prakash Nadda — Union Health Minister, who marked the eight-year milestone.
Narendra Modi — Prime Minister, who launched the scheme in 2018.
Empanelled hospitals — more than 38,000 public and private hospitals that give the treatment.

How It Works

Eligible families are identified from deprivation and occupational criteria, so the poorest households come in first.
Each such family gets an Ayushman card. The card is the proof of entitlement, so treatment does not need cash at the counter.
The family can claim up to 5 lakh rupees of cover every year. The cover is per family, not per person, so a single serious illness can use the whole amount.
Treatment is taken at any empanelled hospital anywhere in India. This portability matters most for migrant workers.
The hospital treats the patient cashless and then claims the money from the government. The patient therefore pays nothing at the time of illness.
1,961 procedures across 27 specialties are listed with fixed rates, so hospitals cannot charge as they please.

Why It Matters

Social angle: hospital bills are a leading cause of families falling into poverty. A 5 lakh rupee cover removes much of that shock.
Economic angle: more than 2 lakh crore rupees of treatment has been paid for by the government in eight years, which is a large transfer to health.
Policy angle: the scheme is India's main instrument for Universal Health Coverage and supports Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Constitutional angle: Article 47 makes it a duty of the State to improve public health, and the right to health has been read into the right to life.

Historical Background

Publicly funded health insurance in India began in a smaller way with the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana, launched in 2008 under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, which gave a much smaller cover to BPL families. The National Health Policy of 2017 then recommended a large strategic purchasing model for secondary and tertiary care. Ayushman Bharat followed in 2018 with two pillars — PM-JAY for hospital care and Health and Wellness Centres, now renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, for primary care. The current event continues that line rather than breaking from it.

Previous Related Events

The scheme was extended to cover all citizens aged 70 and above regardless of income, and Ayushman Vay Vandana cards were introduced for them.
37 lakh families of ASHA and anganwadi workers were brought under the cover.
Ayushman card creation crossed the 41 crore mark before reaching 48 crore 54 lakh by the eighth anniversary.

Static GK Connection

Article 47 — a Directive Principle that asks the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health.
Article 21 — the right to life, into which courts have read the right to health and medical care.
Universal Health Coverage — the idea that everyone should get needed health services without financial hardship. PM-JAY is India's financial-protection arm of this idea.
Sustainable Development Goal 3 — good health and well-being, with a specific target on Universal Health Coverage.

India & World Comparison

AB PM-JAY is described as the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme, because more than 60 crore people are eligible under a single programme. Countries such as the United Kingdom run tax-funded national health services that cover everyone directly, while Thailand and Mexico built large publicly funded insurance models. India's design is different — the government buys care from both public and private hospitals instead of only running its own. India's out-of-pocket health spending remains high compared with developed economies, which is exactly the gap the scheme tries to close.

Future Impact

Card creation is expected to continue rising from the present 48 crore 54 lakh, since more than 60 crore people are eligible.
Enrolment of citizens aged 70 and above is set to expand further beyond the 1.36 crore Vay Vandana cards already issued.
Hospital empanelment beyond 38,000 facilities will decide whether cover reaches small towns and rural blocks.
Cost control and claim fraud will stay the main administrative tests as spending crosses 2 lakh crore rupees.

🔑 Key Points for Revision

AB PM-JAY completed eight years on 23 September 2026.
Launched 23 September 2018 from Ranchi, Jharkhand.
More than 60 crore people covered under the scheme.
48 crore 54 lakh Ayushman cards created.
Around 13 crore beneficiaries treated cashless.
Government spending has crossed 2 lakh crore rupees.
Cover is 5 lakh rupees per family per year.
1,961 procedures across 27 specialties are covered.
More than 38,000 public and private hospitals empanelled.
Scheme operates in all 36 States and Union Territories.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have crossed 500 crore visits.
Citizens aged 70 and above are covered irrespective of income.
More than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards issued.
Nodal ministry is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; National Health Authority implements it.
Ayushman Bharat has four parts: PM-JAY, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, ABDM and PM-ABHIM.

🧠 Concept Link (Static GK Deep Dive)

Core Concept: Universal Health Coverage and Publicly Funded Health Insurance

Definition: Universal Health Coverage means every person gets the health services they need without suffering financial hardship.
Constitutional / Legal Basis: Article 47 is the Directive Principle on public health; the right to health has been read into the right to life under Article 21. Public health and hospitals fall under the State List, so the Centre works through centrally sponsored schemes.
Economic Principle: health insurance pools risk. Many people pay a small share so that the few who fall seriously ill do not pay a ruinous bill alone.
Link to this event: PM-JAY is India's financial-protection pillar of Universal Health Coverage, and its eighth-anniversary figures measure how far that protection has spread.
Origin & History: publicly funded health insurance at scale began with Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana in 2008; Ayushman Bharat was launched in 2018.
Key milestone 1: the National Health Policy of 2017 recommended strategic purchasing of secondary and tertiary care from public and private providers.
Key milestone 2: Health and Wellness Centres were renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to mark the primary-care arm of Ayushman Bharat.
Related Acts / Schemes / Treaties: Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana; Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission; PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission; National Health Mission.
Nodal Ministry / Body: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with the National Health Authority as the implementing agency and State Health Agencies at State level.
India-specific relevance: out-of-pocket spending pushes Indian families into poverty every year, so a cashless cover matters more here than a cash reimbursement model.
Global comparison: the United Kingdom runs a tax-funded national health service; Thailand and Mexico built large publicly funded insurance schemes; India buys care from both public and private hospitals.
Data point: treatment worth more than 2 lakh crore rupees has been funded in eight years, with around 13 crore cashless treatments given.
Common exam angle: examiners ask the launch date, the cover amount, the number of components of Ayushman Bharat, and which component handles primary care.
Easy memory hook: "5 lakh cover, 60 crore people, 2018 start" — three numbers hold the whole scheme.

❓ Practice MCQs

Q1. On which date was the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana launched? [Easy]

A) 2 October 2014

B) 23 September 2018

C) 1 April 2018

D) 15 August 2019

Answer: B

Explanation: The scheme was launched on 23 September 2018, which is why its eighth anniversary fell on 23 September 2026.

Q2. What is the annual cashless health cover per family under AB PM-JAY? [Easy]

A) 2 lakh rupees

B) 3 lakh rupees

C) 5 lakh rupees

D) 10 lakh rupees

Answer: C

Explanation: Each eligible family gets 5 lakh rupees of cover every year for secondary and tertiary hospital care.

Q3. Which component of Ayushman Bharat is meant for primary healthcare? [Moderate]

A) Ayushman Arogya Mandirs

B) Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

C) Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

D) PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission

Answer: A

Explanation: Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, earlier called Health and Wellness Centres, deliver primary care and have recorded more than 500 crore visits.

Q4. How many Ayushman cards had been created by the eighth anniversary of the scheme? [Moderate]

A) 30 crore

B) 41 crore

C) 45 crore

D) 48 crore 54 lakh

Answer: D

Explanation: 48 crore 54 lakh Ayushman cards had been created against an eligible population of more than 60 crore.

Q5. Which ministry is the nodal ministry for AB PM-JAY? [Moderate]

A) Ministry of Labour and Employment

B) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

C) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

D) Ministry of Women and Child Development

Answer: B

Explanation: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the nodal ministry, and the National Health Authority implements the scheme.

Q6. From which city was AB PM-JAY launched in 2018? [Tricky]

A) New Delhi

B) Varanasi

C) Ranchi

D) Ahmedabad

Answer: C

Explanation: The scheme was launched from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, on 23 September 2018.

Q7. Which statement correctly describes the senior-citizen cover under the scheme? [Tricky]

A) All citizens aged 70 and above are covered irrespective of income

B) Only below-poverty-line citizens aged 70 and above are covered

C) All citizens aged 60 and above are covered irrespective of income

D) Only senior citizens who already held an Ayushman card are covered

Answer: A

Explanation: The cover for citizens aged 70 and above applies regardless of income, and more than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards have been issued.

Q8. How much has the government spent on hospital treatment under PM-JAY in its first eight years? [Tricky]

A) 20,000 crore rupees

B) 50,000 crore rupees

C) 1 lakh crore rupees

D) More than 2 lakh crore rupees

Answer: D

Explanation: Spending on treatment under the scheme has crossed 2 lakh crore rupees over eight years.

📜 Previous Year Question Style (PYQ)

PYQ 1:

Which body implements Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana at the national level?

A) NITI Aayog

B) Indian Council of Medical Research

C) National Health Authority

D) Central Bureau of Health Intelligence

Answer: C

Explanation: The National Health Authority is the implementing agency for PM-JAY, working with State Health Agencies.

PYQ 2:

Consider the following statements:

AB PM-JAY provides cashless cover for secondary and tertiary hospital care.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were earlier known as Health and Wellness Centres.
AB PM-JAY is funded entirely from premium contributions paid by beneficiary families.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 1 and 2 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because the scheme is government-funded and beneficiaries pay no premium.

PYQ 3:

Assertion (A): AB PM-JAY is described as the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme.

Reason (R): It covers more than 60 crore people, with 5 lakh rupees of cashless cover for each family every year.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A

C) A is true but R is false

D) A is false but R is true

Answer: A

Explanation: Both statements are correct, and the scale of coverage — more than 60 crore people under one government-funded programme — is exactly what makes the claim true.

✍️ Mains Answer Pointers

Question 1 (150 words): Assess the contribution of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to financial protection in Indian healthcare.

AB PM-JAY has become the main shield between an Indian family and a catastrophic hospital bill. In eight years since its launch on 23 September 2018, the scheme has funded around 13 crore cashless treatments and spent more than 2 lakh crore rupees on them. The cover of 5 lakh rupees per family per year is large enough to absorb most secondary and tertiary episodes, and portability across more than 38,000 empanelled hospitals means a migrant worker is not tied to his home district.

The gains are real but uneven. Empanelment is thinner in rural blocks, package rates are contested by private hospitals, and claim scrutiny remains a heavy administrative burden. Financial protection also stops at the hospital door, while a large share of household health spending goes on medicines and outpatient care.

The way forward is to pair the insurance arm with stronger primary care through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, so that fewer illnesses reach the hospital stage at all.

Question 2 (250 words): Ayushman Bharat is described as India's principal instrument for Universal Health Coverage. Examine this claim in the light of its design, its record over eight years, and the constitutional division of responsibility for health.

Universal Health Coverage asks that every person receive needed care without financial hardship, and Ayushman Bharat is the largest Indian attempt to deliver it. The claim is defensible, but it needs qualification on all three counts.

Constitutionally, public health and hospitals lie with the States, while the Union works through centrally sponsored schemes. Article 47 places a duty on the State to improve public health, and courts have read the right to health into the right to life under Article 21. Ayushman Bharat therefore operates as a Centre-State partnership, with the National Health Authority above and State Health Agencies below. Its reach in all 36 States and Union Territories is an achievement of cooperative federalism rather than of central command alone.

On design, the scheme has two arms. PM-JAY buys secondary and tertiary care for more than 60 crore people, covering 1,961 procedures across 27 specialties. Ayushman Arogya Mandirs carry primary care and have crossed 500 crore visits. Universal Health Coverage needs both, and the primary arm is the weaker half in public attention though the larger half in volume.

On record, the numbers are substantial. 48 crore 54 lakh cards created, around 13 crore cashless treatments, and spending above 2 lakh crore rupees mark real financial protection. Yet eligibility is targeted rather than universal in the strict sense, and outpatient spending stays outside the cover.

The honest conclusion is that Ayushman Bharat is India's principal step towards Universal Health Coverage, not its completion. Widening outpatient and medicine cover is the next logical move.

⚠️ Examiner Trap

Trap 1: Students confuse Ayushman Bharat with PM-JAY. The correct fact is that Ayushman Bharat is the umbrella programme with four parts — PM-JAY, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and PM-ABHIM — while PM-JAY is only its hospital-insurance arm.
Trap 2: A common wrong assumption is that the 5 lakh rupee cover is given to each member of the family. The reality is that the cover is 5 lakh rupees per family per year, shared by all members.
Trap 3: Many students miss the difference between people covered and cards created. Always remember that more than 60 crore people are covered while 48 crore 54 lakh Ayushman cards have actually been created.

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Completes Eight Years With Over 60 Crore People Covered

What Happened

When & Where

Who Is Involved

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — nodal ministry for the scheme.
National Health Authority — the agency that implements PM-JAY at the national level.
State Health Agencies — run the scheme inside each State and Union Territory.
Jagat Prakash Nadda — Union Health Minister, who marked the eight-year milestone.
Narendra Modi — Prime Minister, who launched the scheme in 2018.
Empanelled hospitals — more than 38,000 public and private hospitals that give the treatment.

How It Works

Eligible families are identified from deprivation and occupational criteria, so the poorest households come in first.
Each such family gets an Ayushman card. The card is the proof of entitlement, so treatment does not need cash at the counter.
The family can claim up to 5 lakh rupees of cover every year. The cover is per family, not per person, so a single serious illness can use the whole amount.
Treatment is taken at any empanelled hospital anywhere in India. This portability matters most for migrant workers.
The hospital treats the patient cashless and then claims the money from the government. The patient therefore pays nothing at the time of illness.
1,961 procedures across 27 specialties are listed with fixed rates, so hospitals cannot charge as they please.

Why It Matters

Social angle: hospital bills are a leading cause of families falling into poverty. A 5 lakh rupee cover removes much of that shock.
Economic angle: more than 2 lakh crore rupees of treatment has been paid for by the government in eight years, which is a large transfer to health.
Policy angle: the scheme is India's main instrument for Universal Health Coverage and supports Sustainable Development Goal 3.
Constitutional angle: Article 47 makes it a duty of the State to improve public health, and the right to health has been read into the right to life.

Historical Background

Previous Related Events

The scheme was extended to cover all citizens aged 70 and above regardless of income, and Ayushman Vay Vandana cards were introduced for them.
37 lakh families of ASHA and anganwadi workers were brought under the cover.
Ayushman card creation crossed the 41 crore mark before reaching 48 crore 54 lakh by the eighth anniversary.

Static GK Connection

Article 47 — a Directive Principle that asks the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health.
Article 21 — the right to life, into which courts have read the right to health and medical care.
Universal Health Coverage — the idea that everyone should get needed health services without financial hardship. PM-JAY is India's financial-protection arm of this idea.
Sustainable Development Goal 3 — good health and well-being, with a specific target on Universal Health Coverage.

India & World Comparison

Future Impact

Card creation is expected to continue rising from the present 48 crore 54 lakh, since more than 60 crore people are eligible.
Enrolment of citizens aged 70 and above is set to expand further beyond the 1.36 crore Vay Vandana cards already issued.
Hospital empanelment beyond 38,000 facilities will decide whether cover reaches small towns and rural blocks.
Cost control and claim fraud will stay the main administrative tests as spending crosses 2 lakh crore rupees.

🔑 Key Points for Revision

AB PM-JAY completed eight years on 23 September 2026.
Launched 23 September 2018 from Ranchi, Jharkhand.
More than 60 crore people covered under the scheme.
48 crore 54 lakh Ayushman cards created.
Around 13 crore beneficiaries treated cashless.
Government spending has crossed 2 lakh crore rupees.
Cover is 5 lakh rupees per family per year.
1,961 procedures across 27 specialties are covered.
More than 38,000 public and private hospitals empanelled.
Scheme operates in all 36 States and Union Territories.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have crossed 500 crore visits.
Citizens aged 70 and above are covered irrespective of income.
More than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards issued.
Nodal ministry is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; National Health Authority implements it.
Ayushman Bharat has four parts: PM-JAY, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, ABDM and PM-ABHIM.

🧠 Concept Link (Static GK Deep Dive)

Core Concept: Universal Health Coverage and Publicly Funded Health Insurance

Definition: Universal Health Coverage means every person gets the health services they need without suffering financial hardship.
Constitutional / Legal Basis: Article 47 is the Directive Principle on public health; the right to health has been read into the right to life under Article 21. Public health and hospitals fall under the State List, so the Centre works through centrally sponsored schemes.
Economic Principle: health insurance pools risk. Many people pay a small share so that the few who fall seriously ill do not pay a ruinous bill alone.
Link to this event: PM-JAY is India's financial-protection pillar of Universal Health Coverage, and its eighth-anniversary figures measure how far that protection has spread.
Origin & History: publicly funded health insurance at scale began with Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana in 2008; Ayushman Bharat was launched in 2018.
Key milestone 1: the National Health Policy of 2017 recommended strategic purchasing of secondary and tertiary care from public and private providers.
Key milestone 2: Health and Wellness Centres were renamed Ayushman Arogya Mandirs to mark the primary-care arm of Ayushman Bharat.
Related Acts / Schemes / Treaties: Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana; Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission; PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission; National Health Mission.
Nodal Ministry / Body: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with the National Health Authority as the implementing agency and State Health Agencies at State level.
India-specific relevance: out-of-pocket spending pushes Indian families into poverty every year, so a cashless cover matters more here than a cash reimbursement model.
Global comparison: the United Kingdom runs a tax-funded national health service; Thailand and Mexico built large publicly funded insurance schemes; India buys care from both public and private hospitals.
Data point: treatment worth more than 2 lakh crore rupees has been funded in eight years, with around 13 crore cashless treatments given.
Common exam angle: examiners ask the launch date, the cover amount, the number of components of Ayushman Bharat, and which component handles primary care.
Easy memory hook: "5 lakh cover, 60 crore people, 2018 start" — three numbers hold the whole scheme.

❓ Practice MCQs

Q1. On which date was the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana launched? [Easy]

A) 2 October 2014

B) 23 September 2018

C) 1 April 2018

D) 15 August 2019

Answer: B

Explanation: The scheme was launched on 23 September 2018, which is why its eighth anniversary fell on 23 September 2026.

Q2. What is the annual cashless health cover per family under AB PM-JAY? [Easy]

A) 2 lakh rupees

B) 3 lakh rupees

C) 5 lakh rupees

D) 10 lakh rupees

Answer: C

Explanation: Each eligible family gets 5 lakh rupees of cover every year for secondary and tertiary hospital care.

Q3. Which component of Ayushman Bharat is meant for primary healthcare? [Moderate]

A) Ayushman Arogya Mandirs

B) Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

C) Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

D) PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission

Answer: A

Explanation: Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, earlier called Health and Wellness Centres, deliver primary care and have recorded more than 500 crore visits.

Q4. How many Ayushman cards had been created by the eighth anniversary of the scheme? [Moderate]

A) 30 crore

B) 41 crore

C) 45 crore

D) 48 crore 54 lakh

Answer: D

Explanation: 48 crore 54 lakh Ayushman cards had been created against an eligible population of more than 60 crore.

Q5. Which ministry is the nodal ministry for AB PM-JAY? [Moderate]

A) Ministry of Labour and Employment

B) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

C) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

D) Ministry of Women and Child Development

Answer: B

Explanation: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the nodal ministry, and the National Health Authority implements the scheme.

Q6. From which city was AB PM-JAY launched in 2018? [Tricky]

A) New Delhi

B) Varanasi

C) Ranchi

D) Ahmedabad

Answer: C

Explanation: The scheme was launched from Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, on 23 September 2018.

Q7. Which statement correctly describes the senior-citizen cover under the scheme? [Tricky]

A) All citizens aged 70 and above are covered irrespective of income

B) Only below-poverty-line citizens aged 70 and above are covered

C) All citizens aged 60 and above are covered irrespective of income

D) Only senior citizens who already held an Ayushman card are covered

Answer: A

Explanation: The cover for citizens aged 70 and above applies regardless of income, and more than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards have been issued.

Q8. How much has the government spent on hospital treatment under PM-JAY in its first eight years? [Tricky]

A) 20,000 crore rupees

B) 50,000 crore rupees

C) 1 lakh crore rupees

D) More than 2 lakh crore rupees

Answer: D

Explanation: Spending on treatment under the scheme has crossed 2 lakh crore rupees over eight years.

📜 Previous Year Question Style (PYQ)

PYQ 1:

Which body implements Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana at the national level?

A) NITI Aayog

B) Indian Council of Medical Research

C) National Health Authority

D) Central Bureau of Health Intelligence

Answer: C

Explanation: The National Health Authority is the implementing agency for PM-JAY, working with State Health Agencies.

PYQ 2:

Consider the following statements:

AB PM-JAY provides cashless cover for secondary and tertiary hospital care.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs were earlier known as Health and Wellness Centres.
AB PM-JAY is funded entirely from premium contributions paid by beneficiary families.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 1 and 2 only

C) 2 and 3 only

D) All of the above

Answer: B

Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong because the scheme is government-funded and beneficiaries pay no premium.

PYQ 3:

Assertion (A): AB PM-JAY is described as the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme.

Reason (R): It covers more than 60 crore people, with 5 lakh rupees of cashless cover for each family every year.

A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A

C) A is true but R is false

D) A is false but R is true

Answer: A

Explanation: Both statements are correct, and the scale of coverage — more than 60 crore people under one government-funded programme — is exactly what makes the claim true.

✍️ Mains Answer Pointers

Question 1 (150 words): Assess the contribution of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to financial protection in Indian healthcare.

The way forward is to pair the insurance arm with stronger primary care through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, so that fewer illnesses reach the hospital stage at all.

The honest conclusion is that Ayushman Bharat is India's principal step towards Universal Health Coverage, not its completion. Widening outpatient and medicine cover is the next logical move.

⚠️ Examiner Trap

Trap 1: Students confuse Ayushman Bharat with PM-JAY. The correct fact is that Ayushman Bharat is the umbrella programme with four parts — PM-JAY, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and PM-ABHIM — while PM-JAY is only its hospital-insurance arm.
Trap 2: A common wrong assumption is that the 5 lakh rupee cover is given to each member of the family. The reality is that the cover is 5 lakh rupees per family per year, shared by all members.
Trap 3: Many students miss the difference between people covered and cards created. Always remember that more than 60 crore people are covered while 48 crore 54 lakh Ayushman cards have actually been created.