UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Update on Ayushman Bharat Cards

Q1. With reference to the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), consider the following statements about its design as originally approved. Which of the above is NOT correct?

  1. It provides a cover of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
  2. It was launched on 23 September 2018.
  3. It places no cap on family size or age of beneficiaries.
  4. Benefits are restricted to a maximum of five members per beneficiary family.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q2. Which one of the following bodies operationalises the Ayushman Bharat–PMJAY at the national level?

  • A. National Health Authority
  • B. National Health Mission
  • C. Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
  • D. Central Bureau of Health Intelligence

Q3. Ayushman Bharat rests on two pillars. Which one of the following is the insurance/assurance component providing ₹5 lakh cover and is described as the world's largest government-funded health assurance scheme?

  • A. Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
  • B. Ayushman Arogya Mandir
  • C. Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
  • D. National Health Mission

Q4. How many pillars does the Ayushman Bharat programme comprise?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q5. Following Odisha's onboarding, in how many States and Union Territories is AB-PMJAY operational (as of 2025)?

  • A. 32
  • B. 33
  • C. 34
  • D. 35

Q6. The Governing Board of the National Health Authority, which implements PM-JAY, is chaired by whom?

  • A. Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare
  • B. Prime Minister of India
  • C. Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog
  • D. Cabinet Secretary

Q7. With reference to the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card, consider the following statements. Which of the above is NOT correct?

  1. It extends cover to all citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of income.
  2. It provides a ₹5 lakh health cover on a family basis for eligible senior citizens.
  3. Eligibility is restricted to senior citizens below the poverty line as per SECC 2011.
  4. The extension was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3

Q8. The extension of AB-PMJAY cover to all senior citizens aged 70 years and above irrespective of income was approved by which authority?

  • A. The Union Cabinet
  • B. The National Health Authority
  • C. Parliament through a statutory amendment
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q9. As per the official update given in the Lok Sabha in February 2026, approximately how many Ayushman cards have been created under AB-PMJAY?

  • A. 30.69 crore
  • B. 35.69 crore
  • C. 41.69 crore
  • D. 45.69 crore

Q10. In the update as on 31 January 2026, the figure of ₹1.15 lakh crore of authorised hospital admissions pertains chiefly to which single category of hospitals?

  • A. Private (empanelled) hospitals
  • B. Government hospitals only
  • C. AIIMS and central-government hospitals only
  • D. ESIC hospitals only

Q11. With reference to State-level implementation of AB-PMJAY, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Odisha implements AB-PMJAY in convergence with its Gopabandhu Jan Arogya Yojana.
  2. West Bengal implements AB-PMJAY across the State.
  3. Odisha became the 34th State/UT to implement AB-PMJAY.
  4. The NCT of Delhi is among the jurisdictions not implementing AB-PMJAY.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q12. In the evolution of Ayushman Bharat, the National Health Policy 2017 is best described as which of the following?

  • A. The policy document that recommended the creation of PM-JAY towards Universal Health Coverage
  • B. The Act that made access to healthcare a fundamental right
  • C. The centrally sponsored scheme that preceded and was subsumed by PM-JAY
  • D. The constitutional amendment transferring health to the Union List