Update on Progress of AB-PMJAY and ABDM

**Executive Summary** This report provides a progress update on the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) as of March 2026. It highlights the creation of 43.52 crore Ayushman cards and 86.64 crore health accounts to facilitate cashless secondary and tertiary healthcare. The document outlines significant expansions in beneficiary coverage, including senior citizens and frontline health workers, alongside the integration of digital health records across 2.5 lakh facilities. **Key Points / Main Content** **AB-PMJAY Scheme Scope and Coverage** * **Financial Protection:** Provides health coverage of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. * **Target Population:** Originally aimed at the bottom 40% of India’s population (12 crore families); expanded in March 2024 to include 37 lakh families of ASHA, Anganwadi Workers, and Helpers. * **Senior Citizen Inclusion:** Coverage expanded to 6 crore senior citizens (aged 70+) across 4.5 crore families, regardless of socio-economic status. **Infrastructure and Utilization (as of 28.02.2026)** * **Card Issuance:** 43.52 crore total Ayushman cards created, including 1.14 crore Ayushman Vay Vandana cards specifically for seniors. * **Hospital Network:** 36,229 hospitals empanelled, comprising 19,483 public and 16,746 private facilities. * **Services Offered:** Cashless healthcare for ,1961 procedures across 27 medical specialties. * **Total Admissions:** 11.69 crore hospital admissions authorized, amounting to Rs. 1.73 lakh crore. **Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) Progress (as of 11.03.2026)** * **Digital Ecosystem:** Launched in September 2021 to support an integrated, citizen-centric national digital health ecosystem. * **ABHA Creation:** 86,64,46,563 Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) created for citizens. * **Record Linking:** 90,70,14,529 health records linked to patient ABHA IDs. * **Software Adoption:** 2,56,542 healthcare facilities are utilizing ABDM-enabled software. **Impact Analysis** **Eligible Families and Senior Citizens** **Impact** Beneficiaries receive financial security against high medical costs and access to a vast network of public and private hospitals for 27 specialties. **Action Required** Eligible individuals, particularly those 70 and older, must ensure the creation of their Ayushman or Vay Vandana cards to access cashless services. **Healthcare Providers (Public and Private Hospitals)** **Impact** Empanelled hospitals are part of a national network with authorized reimbursement for nearly 2,000 procedures. **Action Required** Facilities must adopt and maintain ABDM-enabled software to link health records and participate in the digital health ecosystem. **Frontline Workers (ASHA and Anganwadi Workers/Helpers)** **Impact** 37 lakh families of frontline health workers are now eligible for the same secondary and tertiary care benefits as the core target population. **Action Required** These workers must register and obtain their Ayushman cards to utilize the scheme's health coverage.

Key Entities Referenced