BharatNotes 🔬 Science & Technology
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
GS3 /ˈaɪjʊʃmɑːn ˈbɑːrət ˈdɪdʒɪtəl ˈmɪʃən/
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)
/ˈaɪjʊʃmɑːn ˈbɑːrət ˈdɪdʒɪtəl ˈmɪʃən/India's national digital health ecosystem launched in September 2021 by the National Health Authority (NHA), creating a unified framework of health IDs (ABHA), electronic health records, health facility and professional registries, and interoperable digital health services to ensure that every citizen's medical history is portable, secure, and accessible across all healthcare providers.
Context & Background
As of January 2025, approximately 73 crore ABHA IDs have been created (PIB-confirmed); 100 crore health records linked to ABHA accounts (milestone crossed May 22, 2026 — DD News/PIB); the Scan & Share feature enables instant OPD registration at hospitals; key challenges include interoperability, data privacy, digital literacy, and bridging the urban-rural digital divide. Note: ABHA accounts created (~73 crore) and health records linked to ABHA (100 crore) are two distinct metrics.
UPSC Exam Relevance
GS2 (Health, Governance), GS3 (Science & Technology). Prelims: ABHA = 14-digit health ID; launched September 2021; NHA is the implementing agency. Mains: asked to evaluate India's digital health infrastructure — ABDM's vision of a paperless, portable health record system, its implementation challenges, and its role in achieving Universal Health Coverage.
