Ayushman Bharat Outlay Set to Exceed ₹10,000 Crore Amid Steady Scale-Up

• Ayushman Bharat's budget outlay is projected to surpass ₹10,000 crore in the upcoming Union Budget, driven by consistent spending increases.
• Actual spending for the scheme has more than trebled, rising from ₹1,998 crore in FY19 to ₹6,671 crore in FY24.
• The FY26 budget already earmarks ₹9,406 crore, indicating a likely breach of the ₹10,000 crore mark if current trends continue.
• State-level utilisation remains uneven; Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka show high usage, while UP, MP, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Delhi, West Bengal have low rates.
• The scheme provides an annual health cover of ₹5 lakh and has been extended to all citizens above 70.

Why It Matters: Ayushman Bharat's budget is set to cross ₹10,000 crore, reflecting significant growth despite uneven state utilisation.