Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the world's largest government-funded health insurance programme, completed eight years on September 23, 2026. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

The scheme provides up to 5 lakh rupees of cashless hospital cover per family per year. According to the National Health Authority, more than 12 crore families now have financial protection under the programme.

Over 48.54 crore Ayushman cards have been issued, and more than 13 crore hospital admissions worth over 2 lakh crore rupees have been funded. Treatments are delivered through a network of more than 38,000 public and private hospitals.

In September 2024, the scheme was expanded to cover all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income. More than 1.36 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards have been issued to seniors so far.

Health Minister J.P. Nadda marked the milestone by inaugurating Aarogya Manthan 2026 in New Delhi, an event reviewing the programme's next phase. The scale matters: one scheme now touches roughly a third of India's population, though experts say out-of-pocket costs remain a challenge.