India's Health Transformation: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead
UPSC-standard MCQs with explanations, trap analysis, and approach guide. Answer after the test — not before.
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Article summary
India has undertaken a sweeping transformation of its public health architecture over the past decade, marked by flagship programmes such as Ayushman Bharat, the National Health Mission, and the expansion of AIIMS and medical colleges across the country. The government has progressively increased health expenditure as a share of GDP, aiming to reach 2.5% by 2025 as envisioned in the National Health Policy 2017. Key achievements include a dramatic reduction in infant and maternal mortality rates, near-elimination of several communicable diseases, and the creation of over 1.6 lakh Health and Wellness Centres under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana framework. India's COVID-19 vaccination drive — the world's largest — demonstrated the country's logistical and scientific capacity in public health delivery. For UPSC aspirants, this topic intersects governance, social justice, fiscal policy, and science-technology dimensions, making it a recurring theme across both Prelims and Mains.
What this tests
Sample questions — answers revealed after test
Q1. With reference to Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which one of the following statements is correct?
Q2. A State government wishes to reduce 'catastrophic health expenditure' among poor households while simultaneously improving preventive healthcare access in rural areas. Which combination of Ayushman Bharat components most directly addresses BOTH objectives together?
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding India's public health financing and the Universal Health Coverage framework: 1. India's public health expenditure at approximately 1.84% of GDP in 2021-22 has already met the target set by the National Health Policy 2017. 2. Under the Constitution of India, health is a State subject, yet the Centre drives major health schemes through Centrally Sponsored Schemes, creating a structural tension in cooperative federalism. 3. Out-of-pocket expenditure in India accounts for nearly 47% of total health expenditure, indicating that public financing does not yet provide adequate financial protection to the majority of the population. 4. The National Health Mission integrates only the National Rural Health Mission and does not cover urban health under its ambit. Which of the statements given above are correct?