Update on AAMs

1. At a Glance

Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) are upgraded Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) that deliver Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) — the first pillar of Ayushman Bharat (2018) [S1][S2].
Renamed from Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) to Ayushman Arogya Mandir in 2023, with tagline "Arogyam Parmam Dhanam" [S2][S3].
Significance for UPSC: Flagship vehicle for Universal Health Coverage (UHC); touches SDG-3, Centre–State health federalism, NCD burden, and tribal/aspirational district equity [S1][S2].

2. Why in the News

PIB release dated 03 Feb 2026: 1,82,944 AAMs operationalized as on 31.12.2025, against the original Feb-2018 target of 1,50,000 by Dec 2022 [S1][S3].
Expanded service basket: 172 drugs & 63 diagnostics at PHC-AAMs, and 106 drugs & 14 diagnostics at SHC-AAMs [S1].
30,817 AAMs in Tribal Districts and 24,327 AAMs in Aspirational Districts operationalized [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

Feb 2018: Union Budget announces Ayushman Bharat with two pillars — (i) HWCs and (ii) PM-JAY [S3].
14 Apr 2018: First HWC inaugurated at Jangla, Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) by PM (commonly cited milestone) [S3].
Target: 1.5 lakh HWCs by Dec 2022 by upgrading 1.5 lakh SHCs + PHCs [S3].
Nov 2023: Cabinet approves rebranding to "Ayushman Arogya Mandir" with standardized branding/tagline [S2].
15 Dec 2023: 1,63,402 AAMs operationalized [S2].
31 Oct 2025: 1,80,906 AAMs [S3].
31 Dec 2025: 1,82,944 AAMs [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW); AYUSH-AAMs are under Ministry of AYUSH [S1][S4].
Parent scheme: Ayushman Bharat (one of two pillars; other is PM-JAY) [S3].
Funding: Through National Health Mission (NHM); Centre:State share generally 60:40 (90:10 for NE/Hill States) [S3].
Service basket: 12 packages of CPHC — RCH, communicable diseases, NCDs, mental health (epilepsy, dementia, substance use), palliative & elderly care, oral health, ENT, ophthalmic, basic emergency, etc. [S1][S3].
Coverage type: services are universal, free, and close to community [S3].
Drugs/Diagnostics: PHC-AAM = 172 drugs + 63 diagnostics; SHC-AAM = 106 drugs + 14 diagnostics [S1].
Workforce: SHC-AAMs led by Community Health Officer (CHO) — typically a B.Sc. Nursing/Ayurveda graduate with 6-month bridge course in CPHC [S3].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Social / Equity - Disproportionate scale-up in Tribal (30,817) and Aspirational (24,327) districts addresses geographic health inequity [S1]. - Free essential drugs and diagnostics reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure [S1].

Administrative / Federal - Implemented via States/UTs through NHM; progress tracked on the AAM Portal (real-time reporting) [S1]. - Convergence with AYUSH ministry for AYUSH-AAMs (12,500 sanctioned) [S4].

Public-Health (Epidemiological) - Shifts focus from selective RCH to NCDs (hypertension, diabetes, cancers — oral, cervical, breast), mental health, and elderly care — aligned with India's NCD burden (~65% of mortality) [S3].

Scientific / Technological - Integration with eSanjeevani tele-consultation and ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission [S3].

Governance / Ethics - Standardized branding/tagline ("Arogyam Parmam Dhanam") improves citizen recognition; criticised for political optics over substance [S2].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

31 Dec 2025: 1,82,944 AAMs operationalized [S1].
31 Oct 2025: 1,80,906 AAMs cited in a Lok Sabha-linked PIB note [S3].
Drug list expanded to 172 (PHC-AAM) and 106 (SHC-AAM); diagnostics raised to 63 and 14 respectively [S1].
Civil Services Day 2025: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda chaired session on "Swasth Bharat through PM-JAY and AAM" [S3].

7. Prelims Hooks

AAMs are the first pillar of Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY is the second) [S3].
Original target: 1.5 lakh HWCs by December 2022 [S3].
HWC renamed to Ayushman Arogya Mandir in 2023; tagline "Arogyam Parmam Dhanam" [S2].
Total operationalized as on 31.12.2025: 1,82,944 [S1].
PHC-AAM drug list: 172 drugs; diagnostics: 63 [S1].
SHC-AAM drug list: 106 drugs; diagnostics: 14 [S1].
Tribal-district AAMs: 30,817; Aspirational-district AAMs: 24,327 [S1].
AAMs deliver 12 packages of CPHC, including mental health and palliative care [S1][S3].
Funded under the National Health Mission; tracked on the AAM Portal [S1].
SHC-AAMs are headed by a Community Health Officer (CHO) [S3].
First HWC inaugurated in 2018 at Jangla, Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [S3].
AYUSH-AAMs are administered by the Ministry of AYUSH (separate from MoHFW network) [S4].

8. Mains Relevance

GS-II — Governance: "Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health".
GS-II — Welfare schemes: Performance audit of flagship initiatives.
Question stems: 1. "Ayushman Arogya Mandirs aim to transform India's primary healthcare from a selective to a comprehensive model. Critically examine." 2. "Discuss the role of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in addressing India's rising Non-Communicable Disease burden." 3. "Evaluate the convergence between PM-JAY and AAMs in moving towards Universal Health Coverage."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

PM-JAY — companion pillar of Ayushman Bharat (secondary/tertiary cover).
National Health Mission (NHM) — funding vehicle for AAMs.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) / ABHA — digital backbone.
eSanjeevani — tele-medicine layer at AAMs.
Aspirational Districts Programme (NITI Aayog) — convergence area.
National Multi-dimensional Poverty Index — health indicators linkage.
SDG-3 (Good Health & Well-being) — global benchmark.
Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022 — facility norms governing SHCs/PHCs.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

AAMs are not hospitals or secondary-care centres; they are upgraded SHCs/PHCs (primary level) [S1].
AAMs ≠ PM-JAY: PM-JAY is an insurance scheme (₹5 lakh cover) — both are sub-components of Ayushman Bharat but operationally distinct [S3].
Renaming year is 2023, not 2018 (2018 was original HWC launch) [S2].
AYUSH-AAMs are under Ministry of AYUSH, while mainstream AAMs are under MoHFW [S4].
Original target was December 2022, not 2025 — current figures represent overshoot beyond original deadline [S3].

11. Sources

[S1] Update on AAMs — PIB, MoHFW, 03 Feb 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2222496 — (tier: 1)
[S2] Update on Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Dec 2023 data) — PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2043513 — (tier: 1)
[S3] Update on Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAMs) — PIB (Oct 2025 data) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2200794 — (tier: 1)
[S4] Setting up of Dedicated AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres — PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2040904 — (tier: 1)