West Bengal launches Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, becoming the 36th State to implement it
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 16 August 2026 launched Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY in the State, along with a State health insurance scheme for families not covered by it.
Summary
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 16 August 2026 launched Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) in the State at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata, making West Bengal the 36th State to implement the scheme, according to All India Radio. PM-JAY offers cashless treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, and 1,307 private and 627 government hospitals in the State will provide treatment. The Chief Minister said about 1.43 crore families would benefit. A State Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme (Mukhyamantri Swasthya Bima Yojana) was launched alongside for around 80 lakh families not eligible for PM-JAY. The first patient registration took place at a hospital in Kotulpur, Bankura.
Key facts
- Launch
- 16 August 2026, Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata
- Position
- 36th State to implement AB PM-JAY
- Cover
- Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, cashless
- Hospitals
- 1,307 private + 627 government
- Families (CM)
- About 1.43 crore
- State scheme
- CM's Health Insurance Scheme for about 80 lakh other families
Practice MCQs 3 questions
With the launch of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY on 16 August 2026, West Bengal became which State to implement the scheme?
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Correct answer: B — 36th
All India Radio reported that West Bengal became the 36th State to implement AB PM-JAY.
Consider the following statements about the launch of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY in West Bengal on 16 August 2026: 1. The scheme provides cashless treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. 2. A separate State health insurance scheme was launched alongside for families not eligible for PM-JAY. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. PM-JAY covers up to ₹5 lakh per family per year, and the Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme was launched for around 80 lakh families outside PM-JAY.
Roughly how many families in West Bengal are to be covered under the State's Chief Minister's Health Insurance Scheme launched with PM-JAY on 16 August 2026?
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Correct answer: A — About 80 lakh
The State scheme covers around 80 lakh families not covered by PM-JAY; about 1.43 crore families fall under PM-JAY itself.