The BJP-led Delhi government presented its maiden Budget on 25 March, announcing the rollout of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) in the capital. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta confirmed an allocation of Rs 2,144 crore for the scheme, fulfilling a key electoral promise.
“We had committed to implementing Ayushman Bharat in Delhi,” Gupta stated while presenting the Budget. The scheme, which provides Rs 5 lakh health insurance coverage under the central initiative, will receive an additional Rs 5 lakh top-up from the Delhi government.
With this announcement, Delhi becomes the 35th state or Union Territory to adopt AB-PMJAY, which covers 12.37 crore economically weaker families, benefiting around 55 crore individuals, or 40% of India’s population.
Delhi’s Shift in Healthcare Policy
The previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had rejected the scheme in favour of its own healthcare model. However, in October 2024, the Central government expanded AB-PMJAY to provide free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh per year for all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Healthcare Budget Allocation
The Delhi government has set aside Rs 6,874 crore for the health sector, a decline from Rs 8,685 crore allocated by the AAP-led administration in 2024-25. The funds will be directed toward:
- 400 Health & Wellness Centres under the ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ initiative (Rs 320 crore allocation)
- Ayushman Digital Mission for modernizing medical records and integrating healthcare data (Rs 10 crore allocation)
- Construction of 10-13 new hospitals, with Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for the project
This move marks a significant policy shift in Delhi’s healthcare system, aligning it with the central government’s flagship health insurance program.
