Ayushman Arogya Mandir Inauguration: Enhancing Healthcare Infrastructure in Delhi
Inauguration of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs aims to improve healthcare access in Delhi.
Photo by Brian Wangenheim
Key Facts
Inauguration Date: 14 January 2026
Number of Mandirs: 81
Location: Delhi
UPSC Exam Angles
GS Paper II: Social Justice and Governance - Health sector
Link to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
Potential for questions on government schemes, healthcare infrastructure, and public health policies
Visual Insights
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in Delhi (2026)
Distribution of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in Delhi as of January 2026. The map highlights the increased accessibility to primary healthcare services across the city.
Loading interactive map...
More Information
Background
The concept of primary healthcare in India has evolved significantly since independence. The Bhore Committee in 1946 laid the foundation for a comprehensive primary healthcare system, emphasizing preventive and promotive health services. Subsequent committees like the Mudaliar Committee (1962) and the Srivastava Committee (1975) further refined the approach, advocating for community participation and integration of health services.
The Alma-Ata Declaration of 1978, which India endorsed, reinforced the importance of primary healthcare as the cornerstone of national health systems. The National Health Policy of 1983 and subsequent policies have reiterated the commitment to strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure and accessibility, leading to initiatives like the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). These missions aimed to improve healthcare delivery in rural and urban areas respectively, focusing on maternal and child health, disease control, and strengthening health systems.
Latest Developments
In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on strengthening primary healthcare through initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat program, launched in 2018. This program has two main components: Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). HWCs aim to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services, including preventive, promotive, and curative care, closer to the community.
PMJAY provides health insurance coverage to vulnerable populations, enabling access to secondary and tertiary care. The National Digital Health Mission (NDHM), launched in 2020, aims to create a digital health ecosystem, improving efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services. The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted the importance of a robust primary healthcare system, leading to increased investments in strengthening healthcare infrastructure and workforce at the grassroots level.
Future outlook involves leveraging technology, expanding the scope of services offered at HWCs, and integrating traditional medicine systems into mainstream healthcare.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the Ayushman Bharat program: 1. It aims to provide comprehensive primary healthcare services through Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs). 2. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) component provides health insurance coverage for secondary and tertiary care. 3. It exclusively focuses on rural populations, neglecting urban healthcare needs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: A
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Ayushman Bharat includes HWCs for primary care and PMJAY for insurance. Statement 3 is incorrect as it covers both rural and urban populations.
2. Which of the following committees is associated with the evolution of primary healthcare in India?
- A.Kelkar Committee
- B.Bhore Committee
- C.Narasimham Committee
- D.Rangarajan Committee
Show Answer
Answer: B
The Bhore Committee (1946) laid the foundation for a comprehensive primary healthcare system in India.
3. Assertion (A): Strengthening primary healthcare is crucial for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Reason (R): Primary healthcare provides essential services and reduces the burden on secondary and tertiary care facilities. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?
- A.Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- B.Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
- C.A is true but R is false
- D.A is false but R is true
Show Answer
Answer: A
Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why strengthening primary healthcare is crucial for UHC.
4. Which of the following is NOT a key objective of the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM)?
- A.Creating a digital health ecosystem
- B.Improving efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services
- C.Providing health insurance coverage to all citizens
- D.Ensuring data privacy and security
Show Answer
Answer: C
NDHM focuses on creating a digital health ecosystem and does not directly provide health insurance coverage. Health insurance is provided under PMJAY.
Related Articles
High Court halts 'Kerala Story 2' release, asks CBFC review
PM Launches Nationwide Vaccination Campaign Against Invasive Pneumococcal Disease
Decolonization Requires Recognizing Colonialism's Manifestations Within India Itself
Sociologist T.K. Oommen, Pioneer of Indian Sociology, Dies at 88
Understanding ARFID: More Than Just Picky Eating, a Treatable Disorder