Delhi becomes the 36th State/UT to Join Ayushman Bharat Scheme
Government Scheme
4 min read
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led government in Delhi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the central government on 5 April 2025 to join the centrally sponsored scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
Delhi becomes the 36th State/Union Territory to join the AB-PMJAY scheme.
Only the Mamata Banerjee government of West Bengal has not joined the scheme.
The previous Aam Adami Party (AAP) government led by Arvind Kejriwal, which rule Delhi for over 10 years refused to join the AB-PMJAY scheme.
The MoU was signed between the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the National Health Authority in New Delhi in the presence of the Delhi Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda.
The National Health Authority is the implementing agency of the AB-PMJAY.
About AB-PMJAY
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is part of the flagship Ayushman Bharat health scheme of the government of India.
The other component of the Ayushman Bharat flagship scheme is the Health and Wellness Center.
The National Health Protection Scheme of the central government was renamed as PM-JAY.
It is the world’s largest medical insurance scheme.
Benefits of the AB- PMJAY
- It is a cashless medical insurance scheme.
- The eligible families get Rs 5 lakh per year insurance for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
- A family member or all the members combined can get health insurance benefits of Rs 5 lakh per year in eligible public or private sector hospitals.
- The central government and the state government share the insurance premium.
Eligibility
Initially, the scheme was for the identified poor and vulnerable families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries), based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas, respectively.
- The scheme was later extended to include 37 lakh Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Anganwadi Workers, and Anganwadi Helpers and their families.
- There is no restriction on family size.
- In 2024, the government included senior citizens of 70 years and above under the scheme.
Implementing Authority
- National Health Authority under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is the implementing authority of the AB-PMJAY.
