Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY) 2026 Overview

Last Updated : Wednesday 02-09-2026 | 12:33 PM

Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PM-JAY) is a government health insurance scheme that provides eligible families with cashless hospital treatment worth up to ₹5 lakh every year. This scheme aims to protect economically weaker families from financial burdens due to hospital expenses.

Scheme Details

This section provides an overview of the key details related to the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

Scheme Name: Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
Launched On: 23 September 2018
Launched By: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Run By: National Health Authority (NHA), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Benefit: ₹5 lakh cashless health cover per family per year
Who Benefits: Economically weaker families (as per SECC 2011) + all citizens aged 70+
Hospital Network: 30,000+ empanelled government and private hospitals
Official Website: pmjay.gov.in

You May Also Check : CCRUM Group A B C Recruitment

Who is Eligible

Eligibility for PM-JAY is determined based on the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011. Below are the criteria for eligibility.

Rural households: Landless households earning primarily from manual casual labour
Rural households: Female-headed households with no adult male member (aged 16–59)
Rural households: Households with a disabled member and no able-bodied adult
Rural households: SC/ST households
Rural households: Households living in a single-room, kutcha house
Rural households: Households with no adult member aged 16–59
Rural households: Destitute or those living on alms
Urban households: Primary earner works in listed informal-sector occupations
Age: Anyone aged 70 or above

Who is Excluded

Certain households are not eligible for PM-JAY coverage. Here are the exclusions.

Ownership: Household owns a two-wheeler, three-wheeler, four-wheeler, or a motorised fishing boat
Employment: Household has a member who is a government employee
Income: Household earns a monthly income above ₹10,000
Land Ownership: Household owns a certain threshold of agricultural land
Ownership: Household owns a refrigerator or landline phone

You May Also Check : HPSC AE Civil Recruitment

Documents Required

To apply for the Ayushman Card, the following documents are necessary.

Aadhaar Card: Mandatory for e-KYC
Ration card or Family ID: For household verification
Proof of identity: Voter ID, passport, or driving licence
Photograph: A recent photograph for the Ayushman Card
Mobile Number: Registered for OTP verification

How to Check Eligibility and Get Your Ayushman Card

Here’s how you can check your eligibility and obtain your Ayushman Card.

Online: Visit beneficiary.nha.gov.in or pmjay.gov.in and click “Am I Eligible?”
Verification: Enter your mobile number and verify with the OTP
Search: Select your state, district, and scheme, and search using your Aadhaar or ration card number
e-KYC: Complete e-KYC via Aadhaar OTP or biometric verification
Download: Download your Ayushman Card (PDF) directly from the portal

You May Also Check : Daily Current Affairs Quiz for Government Exams — 2 September

What’s Covered

The scheme covers a wide range of medical procedures and expenses. Here are the details.

Procedures: Over 1,900 medical procedures including surgeries and treatments
Pre-hospitalisation: Expenses up to 3 days before admission
Post-hospitalisation: Expenses up to 15 days after discharge
Coverage: Treatment at any empanelled hospital in any state

Using Your Card at a Hospital

Follow these steps to use your Ayushman Card at a hospital.

Identification: Show your Aadhaar card or Ayushman Card at the hospital
Verification: An Ayushman Mitra will verify your identity and eligibility
Treatment: Once verified, treatment begins cashless

State Coverage Note

As of 2026, PM-JAY has been implemented in nearly every state and union territory.

Recent Addition: West Bengal is the most recent state to join
Exclusion: Delhi has not implemented PM-JAY

Important Links

PM-JAY Official Website - PM-JAY