BharatNotes India's Health Profile — Key Indicators
India has made significant progress on health outcomes over the past three decades, but continues to face challenges of inequity, underfunding, and infrastructure gaps. Understanding the key health indicators is essential for both GS-I (Indian Society) and GS-II (Governance) dimensions.
Latest Health Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Source/Year |
|---|---|---|
| Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) | 25 per 1,000 live births | SRS 2023 (provisional) |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) | 88 per 1,00,000 live births | SRS 2020–22 |
| Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) | Declined by 78% from 1990 to 2023 — surpassing the global decline of 61% | UN IGME 2023 |
| Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) | 19 per 1,000 live births (declined 70% from 1990 to 2023 vs 54% globally) | SRS 2021 |
| Total Fertility Rate (TFR) | 2.0 (NFHS-5, 2019–21); estimated at 1.9 as of 2023 — below the replacement level of 2.1 | NFHS-5; UN estimates |
| Life expectancy at birth | 69.6 years (2020) — up from 47.7 years in 1970 | WHO |
| Sex ratio at birth | 929 females per 1,000 males (NFHS-5) — improving but still skewed | NFHS-5 |
Regional Disparities
| High-performing States | Lagging States |
|---|---|
| Kerala (IMR: 6, MMR: 19) | Madhya Pradesh (IMR: 43) |
| Tamil Nadu (IMR: 13) | Uttar Pradesh (IMR: 40, TFR: 2.4 in 2023) |
| Maharashtra (IMR: 16) | Bihar (TFR: 3.0 in 2023, highest in India) |
| Telangana, Karnataka | Assam, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh |
For Prelims: India's TFR has fallen below the replacement level (2.1) to 2.0 as per NFHS-5. As of 2023, all Indian states except Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have achieved below-replacement fertility. Bihar is projected to be the last state to reach replacement fertility, by 2039.
Disease Burden in India
The Epidemiological Transition
India is undergoing a dual burden of disease — communicable diseases remain significant while non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rapidly rising. This epidemiological transition is incomplete and uneven across states.
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Share of deaths | NCDs account for approximately 63% of all deaths in India |
| Major NCDs | Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes |
| Risk factors | Tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, harmful use of alcohol, air pollution |
| Economic impact | NCDs disproportionately affect working-age populations, reducing productivity and increasing household health expenditure |
| Government response | National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD and Stroke (NPCDCS) — aims to integrate NCD screening at primary care level |
Communicable Diseases
| Disease | Status in India |
|---|---|
| Tuberculosis (TB) | India has the highest TB burden globally — approximately 27% of the world's TB cases. India set an ambitious target of TB elimination by 2025 (5 years ahead of the global SDG target of 2030), though this target has not been met. The Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana provides nutritional support to TB patients |
| Malaria | Significant decline — India reported a 69% drop in malaria cases from 2015 to 2023. National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016–2030) targets elimination by 2030 |
| HIV/AIDS | India has the third-largest number of people living with HIV globally (approximately 24 lakh). The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) has achieved significant reduction in new infections |
| Vector-borne diseases | Dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis remain endemic in many states — exacerbated by urbanisation, poor sanitation, and climate change |
| COVID-19 legacy | India was among the most affected countries; the pandemic exposed critical gaps in health infrastructure, oxygen supply, ICU capacity, and surveillance systems |
Malnutrition — The Persistent Challenge
| Indicator | NFHS-5 (2019–21) |
|---|---|
| Stunting (low height for age) | 35.5% of children under 5 |
| Wasting (low weight for height) | 19.3% of children under 5 |
| Underweight | 32.1% of children under 5 |
| Anaemia in women (15–49) | 57% |
| Anaemia in children (6–59 months) | 67.1% |
For Mains: India faces a "triple burden" of malnutrition — undernutrition (stunting, wasting), micronutrient deficiencies (anaemia, vitamin A deficiency), and rising overnutrition (obesity, particularly in urban areas). The POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission, launched 2018) targets a 2% annual reduction in stunting, underweight, and anaemia. Despite progress, India still has the highest number of stunted children in the world.
National Health Policy 2017
Overview
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Adopted | March 2017 — replaces the previous National Health Policy of 2002 |
| Vision | Attainment of the highest possible level of health and well-being for all, through a preventive and promotive healthcare approach |
| Key financial target | Raise public health expenditure progressively to 2.5% of GDP by 2025 (from approximately 1.15% at the time of formulation) |
| Primary care focus | Allocate two-thirds or more of public health resources to primary healthcare |
Key Provisions and Targets
| Target Area | Specific Goal |
|---|---|
| Life expectancy | Increase from 67.5 to 70 years by 2025 |
| IMR | Reduce to 28 per 1,000 live births by 2019 and 25 by 2025 |
| TFR | Achieve replacement level (2.1) at sub-national and national level by 2025 — achieved ahead of schedule |
| Free drugs and diagnostics | Free essential drugs and diagnostics in all public health facilities |
| Hospital beds | Achieve 2 beds per 1,000 population — distributed to enable access within the "golden hour" |
| Out-of-pocket expenditure | Reduce from 65% to 30% of total health expenditure |
| Health and Wellness Centres | Strengthen comprehensive primary healthcare through HWCs offering an expanded package of services |
| District hospitals | Upgrade district hospitals to provide multi-speciality services |
Assessment of Progress
| Target | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Public health expenditure | Approximately 1.9% of GDP in FY26 — still below the 2.5% target |
| IMR | 25 per 1,000 (2023) — target of 25 by 2025 nearly achieved |
| TFR | 2.0 (NFHS-5) — achieved replacement level ahead of schedule |
| Out-of-pocket expenditure | Government share of health expenditure increased from 29% in FY15 to 48% in FY22 — a significant improvement but OOP spending remains high |
| Hospital beds | 1.3 beds per 1,000 population — far below the target of 2 per 1,000 and the WHO benchmark of 3.5 per 1,000 |
| Doctor-to-population ratio | 1:811 (including AYUSH practitioners) — closer to the WHO recommendation of 1:1,000 when AYUSH is included |
For Mains: The NHP 2017's target of 2.5% GDP spending on health by 2025 remains unmet. India's public health expenditure at approximately 1.9% of GDP is among the lowest in the world. This underfunding is the root cause of most health system failures — inadequate infrastructure, shortage of healthcare workers, high out-of-pocket spending, and poor quality of care. Compare with the UK (7.5%), Germany (9.4%), or even Thailand (3.0%).
Ayushman Bharat — Two Pillars
Pillar 1: Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (formerly Health and Wellness Centres)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Announced | Budget 2018 |
| Concept | Transform existing Sub-Centres and Primary Health Centres into comprehensive Health and Wellness Centres providing an expanded package of primary healthcare services |
| Services offered | Maternal and child health, NCDs (screening and management), dental care, eye care, ENT care, mental health, geriatric care, palliative care, emergency medical services |
| Centres operational | 1,84,235 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs operational across rural, urban, and tribal regions as of February 2026 |
| Significance | Shifts India's health system from a hospital-centric curative model to a primary-care-led comprehensive model — addressing the root cause of overcrowded hospitals |
Pillar 2: Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 23 September 2018 (Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Jayanti) |
| Coverage | Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation |
| Target beneficiaries | Bottom 40% of the population — approximately 12 crore families (55 crore individuals) identified through SECC 2011 data |
| Ayushman cards issued | Over 36.9 crore cards created as of March 2025; over 42 crore by October 2025 |
| Empanelled hospitals | Approximately 33,000 hospitals — 17,685 government and 15,380 private facilities |
| Portability | Fully portable across India — a beneficiary can access treatment at any empanelled hospital in any state |
| No premium | Entirely government-funded — no premium paid by beneficiaries |
| Cost savings | Estimated Rs 1.52 lakh crore saved for beneficiary families (as of late 2025) |
Expansion: Ayushman Bharat for Senior Citizens (2024)
On 29 October 2024, the government expanded AB-PMJAY to provide free treatment benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh per year to approximately 6 crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
For Prelims: Ayushman Bharat has two pillars — Health and Wellness Centres (now called Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) and PMJAY. PMJAY provides Rs 5 lakh per family per year for hospitalisation. Over 1.84 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are operational as of February 2026. In 2024, coverage was extended to all senior citizens aged 70+.
Health Infrastructure in India
Current Status
| Parameter | Value | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital beds | 1.3 per 1,000 population | WHO recommends 3.5 per 1,000 |
| Doctors (allopathic) | 13,86,150 registered (as of April 2025) | Doctor-to-population ratio: 1:811 (with AYUSH) |
| AYUSH practitioners | 7,51,768 registered | Significant supplementary healthcare workforce |
| Primary Health Centres | ~30,000 | Many lack basic equipment, medicines, and staff |
| Community Health Centres | ~6,000 | Specialist vacancies remain high — 75% of CHCs lack a surgeon |
| District hospitals | ~760 | Being upgraded under various NHM programmes |
| AIIMS | 23 AIIMS sanctioned (including the original AIIMS Delhi, 1956) | New AIIMS under various stages of construction |
| Medical colleges | Over 700 medical colleges — India added over 300 medical colleges between 2014 and 2025 | Annual MBBS intake crossed 1.1 lakh seats |
Urban-Rural Divide
| Parameter | Urban | Rural |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare facilities | Concentrated in urban areas; private sector dominates | Sub-Centres and PHCs are backbone; but many are non-functional or understaffed |
| Specialists | Available in district and tertiary hospitals | CHCs severely short of specialists — 75% shortfall in surgeons, OB-GYN, physicians, and paediatricians |
| Out-of-pocket spending | Relatively lower (more insurance options) | Higher — catastrophic health expenditure pushes families into poverty |
| Preference | Private hospitals preferred by those who can afford | Government facilities used out of necessity, not choice — quality concerns |
PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 25 October 2021 by the Prime Minister |
| Financial outlay | Rs 64,180 crore for 2021–2026 |
| Focus | Building a resilient, pandemic-ready public health system from primary to tertiary levels |
| Key components | 3,382 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs); 730 Integrated Public Health Laboratories (one per district); 602 Critical Care Hospital Blocks in districts with population over 5 lakh |
| Surveillance | IT-enabled real-time disease surveillance network integrating laboratories at block, district, regional, and national levels |
| National institutions | Strengthening of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), and 15 Health Emergency Operation Centres |
National Digital Health Mission (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission — ABDM)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 27 September 2021 |
| Core component | Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) — a 14-digit unique health ID for every citizen |
| ABHA IDs generated | 80 crore as of late 2025 |
| Health records linked | 6.7 crore health records securely linked to ABHA IDs |
| Key registries | Health Facility Registry (HFR), Health Professional Registry (HPR), and ABHA create the digital backbone |
| Interoperability | ABDM enables seamless sharing of health records across hospitals, labs, pharmacies, and insurance — with patient consent |
| Vision | Create a comprehensive digital health ecosystem enabling longitudinal health records, telemedicine, and data-driven public health planning |
For Mains: India's digital health mission (ABDM) addresses a critical infrastructure gap — the absence of comprehensive, portable health records. Currently, patients carry paper records, repeat tests, and lose medical history when changing providers. ABHA aims to solve this through a consent-based digital health record system. However, challenges remain — data privacy (DPDP Act implementation), digital literacy of patients, interoperability across diverse health IT systems, and ensuring that the digital divide does not exclude the most vulnerable.
Mental Health
Scale of the Problem
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prevalence | The National Mental Health Survey (2016) estimated that approximately 10.6% of adults in India suffer from mental health disorders |
| Treatment gap | Over 80% of people with mental health conditions in India do not receive treatment |
| Suicide | India accounts for approximately one-third of global female suicides; the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalised suicide (Section 115 — suicide attempt presumed to be a result of severe stress) |
| Psychiatrist shortage | India has approximately 0.3 psychiatrists per 1,00,000 population — against the WHO recommendation of at least 3 per 1,00,000 |
Key Programmes
| Programme | Detail |
|---|---|
| National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) | Launched in 1982 — India's first mental health programme; restructured in 2003 to include District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) |
| Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 | Rights-based legislation — guarantees access to mental healthcare and treatment; establishes Central and State Mental Health Authorities; decriminalises suicide; recognises advance directives |
| Tele-MANAS | National Tele-Mental Health Programme launched in Budget 2022; 53 Tele-MANAS cells operational across 36 States/UTs; services in 20 languages; over 20 lakh calls handled; mobile app launched on World Mental Health Day (10 October 2024) |
| Government allocation | Over Rs 230 crore allocated for NTMHP in the last three years |
One Health Approach
Concept
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Definition | An integrated approach recognising that human health, animal health, and environmental health are interconnected and interdependent |
| Origin | Gained global prominence after zoonotic disease outbreaks (SARS, H5N1, Ebola, COVID-19) — approximately 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic |
| Key areas | Zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety, vector-borne diseases, environmental contamination |
| Quadripartite alliance | WHO, FAO, WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health), and UNEP jointly promote One Health |
One Health in India
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| National One Health Programme | India established a National One Health Programme for prevention and control of zoonoses |
| Institutional structure | National Standing Committee on Zoonoses; National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is the nodal agency |
| Challenges | Fragmented governance — human health (MoHFW), animal health (Department of Animal Husbandry), environment (MoEFCC) operate in silos |
| COVID-19 lesson | The pandemic demonstrated the catastrophic consequences of ignoring the animal-human-environment interface |
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
The Threat
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Global impact | AMR is estimated to cause approximately 4.95 million deaths annually worldwide (associated with drug-resistant infections) |
| India's vulnerability | India is among the highest consumers of antibiotics globally; widespread over-the-counter sale without prescription; irrational antibiotic use in human healthcare, animal husbandry, and agriculture |
| Key concern | India has detected bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics (carbapenems, colistin) — raising the spectre of untreatable infections |
Government Response
| Initiative | Detail |
|---|---|
| National Action Plan on AMR 1.0 | Launched in 2017 — covered awareness, surveillance, infection control, and research |
| National Action Plan on AMR 2.0 | Launched on 18 November 2025 — five-year plan (2025–2029); strengthens inter-sectoral coordination, expands private sector engagement, and ensures accountability across ministries |
| AMR Surveillance Network | Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) operates a network of AMR surveillance labs across India |
| Red Line campaign | Visual indicator on antibiotic packaging — a red line distinguishes prescription-only antibiotics to discourage over-the-counter sales |
| One Health approach | AMR requires addressing antibiotic use in humans, animals, and agriculture simultaneously — central to NAP-AMR 2.0 |
India as "Pharmacy of the World"
Vaccine and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Generic drugs | India supplies approximately 20% of the world's generic medicines by volume |
| Vaccines | India manufactures approximately 60% of the world's vaccines; the Serum Institute of India is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by doses produced |
| COVID-19 contribution | India supplied vaccines to over 100 countries during the pandemic — through the "Vaccine Maitri" initiative and COVAX facility |
| Pharma market | India's pharmaceutical market is the third-largest by volume and 14th-largest by value globally |
| Export | India exports pharmaceuticals to over 200 countries; the USA is the largest market for Indian generic drugs |
| Key enabler | India's Patents Act, 1970 (as amended in 2005) — Section 3(d) prevents evergreening of patents; allows India to produce affordable generic versions of essential medicines |
For Mains: India's role as the "pharmacy of the world" is a strategic asset with ethical dimensions. The TRIPS Agreement creates tension between patent protection (which incentivises innovation) and access to affordable medicines (which saves lives). India's use of TRIPS flexibilities — compulsory licensing, Section 3(d), and parallel imports — has been critical in keeping medicine prices affordable for developing nations. This raises the ethical question: should life-saving medicines be treated as commodities subject to patent monopolies, or as public goods?
Recent Developments (2024–2026)
Ayushman Bharat Expanded to All Senior Citizens (70+) — October 2024
The Union Cabinet on 29 October 2024 approved extending AB-PMJAY to all Indian citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income. Approximately 6 crore senior citizens across 4.5 crore families now receive ₹5 lakh annual health cover under the "Ayushman Vay Vandana Card." Families already enrolled in AB-PMJAY get an additional top-up of ₹5 lakh for senior family members — enabling up to ₹10 lakh in annual health coverage.
As of March 2025, over 36.9 crore Ayushman cards have been created overall (including the new senior citizen cards). The AB-PMJAY budget was raised from ₹7,300 crore in 2024–25 to ₹9,406 crore in 2025–26 — a nearly 24% increase to accommodate the senior citizens expansion. The National Health Mission (NHM) was allocated ₹38,183 crore in 2024–25 (up 12.7% from 2023–24). Total health spending remained at approximately 1.9% of GDP — below the NHP 2017 target of 2.5% of GDP.
UPSC angle: Prelims — AB-PMJAY expanded to 70+ (October 2024); Ayushman Vay Vandana Card; 36.9 crore total Ayushman cards; NHM allocation ₹38,183 crore. Mains (GS2) — universalisation pathway for health coverage; elderly healthcare challenge; gap between NHP 2017 targets and current spending.
TB Elimination Target — Status (2024–2025)
India's target to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2025 — the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan goal, set 5 years ahead of the global 2030 target — was not met. India notified 26.07 lakh TB cases in 2024 — the highest in the world by volume, accounting for approximately 25% of global TB burden (WHO Global TB Report 2025). India now aligns efforts toward the global 2030 elimination target.
The Central TB Division's 2024 data shows that while case notification has improved (meaning better detection), incidence reduction has been slower than required for elimination. Challenges include: high proportion of drug-resistant TB (India has 27% of global DR-TB burden), nutritional co-morbidity (malnutrition accelerates TB progression), delayed diagnosis in rural areas, and stigma preventing early care-seeking. The Ni-kshay Poshan Yojana (₹500/month nutritional support for TB patients) reached over 24 lakh patients in 2023–24.
UPSC angle: Prelims — PM TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan; India: 25% global TB burden (WHO 2025); Nikshay Poshan Yojana ₹1,000/month (raised from ₹500); TB elimination target 2025 was missed (incidence ~187/lakh; India now targets 2030). Mains (GS2) — disease burden vs elimination targets; nutrition-infection nexus in TB; One Health approach to infectious disease.
India's Infant and Maternal Mortality — Latest Data (SRS 2023)
The Sample Registration System (SRS) 2023 data — released by the Registrar General of India — shows India's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) at 25 per 1,000 live births (down from 28 in 2020), and Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) at 88 per 1,00,000 live births (SRS 2020–22, released 2024) — down from 97 in 2018–20. Both figures represent significant progress but remain above NITI Aayog's 2030 targets (IMR: 23; MMR: 70 by 2030).
The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 2.0 — below replacement level for the first time in India's demographic history (NFHS-5), confirming India has achieved demographic transition. However, wide regional disparities persist: Bihar's TFR is 3.0, UP is 2.4, while Kerala and Tamil Nadu are 1.8 and 1.7 respectively. The gap between high-performing southern states and lagging northern states in health outcomes remains the central challenge for the National Health Mission.
UPSC angle: Prelims — IMR 25 (SRS 2023); MMR 88 (SRS 2020-22); TFR 2.0 (NFHS-5, below replacement). Mains (GS1) — demographic transition implications; regional health disparities; connection between education, women's empowerment and reproductive health outcomes.
National Dental Commission (NDC) — Replacing Dental Council of India (March 2026)
The National Dental Commission Act (NDC Act) came into force on 19 March 2026, dissolving the Dental Council of India (DCI) and simultaneously repealing the Dentists Act, 1948 — the colonial-era law that had governed dental regulation for 78 years. The NDC is the new apex statutory body for regulation of dental education and the dental profession in India, structured along the lines of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2020 — the landmark reform that replaced the Medical Council of India in 2020.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| NDC Act in force | 19 March 2026 |
| Dissolved body | Dental Council of India (DCI) — dissolved 19 March 2026 |
| Repealed law | Dentists Act, 1948 |
| Nodal ministry | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare |
| Chairperson | Dr. Sanjay Tewari (first Chairperson of NDC) |
| Part-Time Member | Dr. Mousumi Goswami |
| Model | Structurally aligned with NMC (National Medical Commission) — 2020 precedent |
The NDC is supported by three autonomous boards:
- Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dental Education Board — sets curriculum standards, accredits dental colleges, and oversees dental education at UG and PG levels
- Dental Assessment and Rating Board — conducts institutional assessments, inspections, and ratings; ensures quality of dental colleges
- Ethics and Dental Registration Board — maintains the National Register of Dentists; governs professional conduct, disciplinary proceedings, and ethics in dental practice
The NDC reform addresses long-standing criticisms of the DCI: opacity in college approvals, regulatory capture, inadequate quality control, and misaligned incentives. Like the NMC for medicine, the NDC introduces more transparent accreditation, a unified national register, and separation of education regulation from the examining function.
UPSC angle: The NDC (March 2026) mirrors the NMC (2020) reform pathway — replacing a legacy professional council with a multi-board commission for regulatory separation and transparency. For GS-2: the pattern of replacing MCI → NMC (2020) and now DCI → NDC (2026) represents India's systematic overhaul of health professional regulation. Prelims — NDC Act force: 19 March 2026; Dentists Act 1948 repealed; DCI dissolved; Chairperson: Dr. Sanjay Tewari; three boards (Undergraduate/PG Education Board, Assessment and Rating Board, Ethics and Registration Board).
Key Terms for Quick Revision
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| IMR | Infant Mortality Rate — deaths of infants under 1 year per 1,000 live births |
| MMR | Maternal Mortality Ratio — maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births |
| TFR | Total Fertility Rate — average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime; replacement level is 2.1 |
| NCD | Non-Communicable Disease — chronic diseases not transmitted from person to person (CVD, cancer, diabetes) |
| PMJAY | Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana — health insurance for Rs 5 lakh per family per year |
| ABHA | Ayushman Bharat Health Account — 14-digit unique digital health ID |
| PM-ABHIM | PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission — Rs 64,180 crore for pandemic-ready health infrastructure |
| AMR | Antimicrobial Resistance — resistance of microorganisms to drugs that previously treated infections caused by them |
| One Health | Integrated approach linking human, animal, and environmental health |
| NFHS | National Family Health Survey — India's primary source for demographic and health data |
| NCDC | National Centre for Disease Control — India's nodal agency for disease surveillance |
Exam Strategy
For Mains Answer Writing: Health questions appear frequently in both GS-I (Indian Society — population, urbanisation, social issues) and GS-II (Governance — government policies, welfare schemes). For GS-I, focus on the demographic transition, disease burden, and social determinants of health. For GS-II, discuss specific schemes (Ayushman Bharat, PM-ABHIM, ABDM), their design, implementation challenges, and impact. Always cite latest data (IMR, MMR, TFR) and compare India's spending with global benchmarks. The NHP 2017's unmet targets and the health infrastructure deficit provide critical analytical content.
For Prelims: Key numbers to remember — TFR 2.0 (NFHS-5), IMR 25 (SRS 2023), MMR 88 (SRS 2020–22), PMJAY cover Rs 5 lakh, over 1.84 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, ABHA 80 crore IDs, PM-ABHIM outlay Rs 64,180 crore, India's health spending approximately 1.9% of GDP. India's 2025 TB elimination target was missed; now targeting 2030. NCDs cause 63% of deaths.
