New Delhi: Delivering on one of the major BJP poll promises from Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the extension of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) to cover senior citizens aged 70 years and above regardless of their income level.
Extension of the PM-JAY for senior citizens
Taking to social media X, PM Modi said his government was committed to ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare for every Indian. “We are committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and top quality healthcare for every Indian. In this context, the Cabinet today has decided to further expand the ambit of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to provide health coverage for all citizens above 70 years. This scheme will ensure dignity, care and security to 6 crore citizens,” he posted on X.
The highlight of today’s Cabinet decision was the extension of the PM-JAY for senior citizens aged 70 years. This decision is expected to benefit approximately 6 crore senior citizens across 4.5 crore families in India. Each family will receive free health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per annum for treatment aimed at ensuring dignified healthcare for the elderly.
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw added that families already covered under Ayushman Bharat will receive top-up coverage for senior members. “This additional coverage of Rs 5 lakh will ensure comprehensive care for our elderly,” he said.
The other major decisions taken in today’s cabinet meeting include a boost to renewable energy projects, rural road connectivity improvements, and measures to encourage electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
Expansion of PM Gram Sadak Yojana
Furthering its commitment to rural development, the Cabinet approved the fourth phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-IV), with a financial outlay of Rs 70,125 crore. The scheme aims to construct 62,500 kilometres of roads, improving connectivity for 25,000 rural habitations.
The new phase of PMGSY will prioritise areas with significant socio-economic challenges, such as aspirational districts, tribal regions, and Left-Wing Extremism-affected zones. This enhanced connectivity will provide access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and markets, thus contributing to the socio-economic development of these areas.
Boost to hydropower development
In another major decision, the Cabinet has approved modifications to a scheme designed to support the development of hydroelectric projects (HEP) across the country. With a budget of Rs 12,461 crore, the scheme will cover infrastructure beyond traditional road and bridge support, including transmission lines, ropeways, and communication networks. This initiative, slated to run from 2024 to 2032, will support hydropower projects with a combined capacity of 31,350 MW.
Electric Vehicles: PM-eBus Sewa Scheme
In a bid to combat pollution and promote the use of electric vehicles, the Union Cabinet has approved the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme with a total budget of Rs 3,435.33 crore. This initiative aims to deploy over 38,000 electric buses (e-buses) in cities across the country from 2024 to 2029. Public Transport Authorities (PTAs) will be able to procure e-buses through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model without any initial financial outlay. A dedicated payment security mechanism will ensure that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are paid on time, with any defaults covered by the government.
Mission Mausam: Weather tracking initiative
Additionally, the government has approved ‘Mission Mausam’, a two-year programme to improve weather forecasting and climate tracking across India. With a budget of Rs 2,000 crore, the scheme will be implemented by key institutions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences and aims to provide timely and accurate weather information.
Earlier on September 2, the Cabinet had approved schemes to improve farmers’ lives and also setting up of a new semiconductor unit to be set up by Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd in Gujarat.
Support for farmers and semiconductor manufacturing
The Cabinet had approved seven major schemes aimed at improving farmers’ lives with a total outlay of Rs 14,235 crore. These include the Digital Agriculture Mission, Crop Science for Food Security, and support for agricultural education and horticulture. The schemes focus on modernising farming practices and increasing crop resilience in the face of climate change.
Additionally, under the India Semiconductor Mission, the Cabinet approved a new semiconductor unit to be set up by Kaynes Semicon Pvt Ltd in Gujarat. This facility, with a Rs 3,300 crore investment, will significantly boost India’s domestic chip production capacity to 60 lakh chips per day, contributing to sectors like automotive, telecom, and electronics.