Ayushman Bharat to now cover those above 70 years: Modi 3.0’s BIG Cabinet decisions

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, took a slew of decisions, including approval for ‘Mission Mausam' with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years and Ayushman health insurance coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income, under the flagship scheme.

Ayushman health insurance coverage

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) health coverage is expected to benefit six crore senior citizens from 4.5 crore families with ₹5 lakh free health insurance cover.

— All senior citizens above 70 years, irrespective of their socio- economic status, would be eligible to avail the benefits of AB PM-JAY.

— The eligible senior citizens would be issued a new distinct card under AB PM-JAY.

“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,” said PM Modi in a post on X.

Mission Mausam

The Union Cabinet also approved 'Mission Mausam' to create a more weather-ready and climate-smart Bharat with an outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years.

— Mission Mausam is envisaged to be a multifaceted and transformative initiative that will tremendously boost India's weather and climate-related science, research, and services.

— The mission's focus will include improving observations and understanding to provide highly accurate and timely weather and climate information across temporal and spatial scales, including monsoon forecasts, alerts for air quality, extreme weather events and cyclones, weather interventions for managing fog, hail, and rain, etc, capacity building and generating awareness.

— Critical elements of Mission Mausam will include the deployment of next-generation radars and satellite systems with advanced sensors and high-performance supercomputers, the development of improved Earth system models and a GIS-based automated Decision Support System for real-time data dissemination.

Construction of 62,500 km of roads

The Union Cabinet approved the Department of Rural Development's proposal to implement the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV from 2024-25 to 2028-29.

— An official statement said financial assistance will be provided for the construction of 62,500 km of roads to provide new connectivity to eligible 25,000 unconnected habitations and the construction and upgrade of bridges on the new connectivity roads.

— All-weather roads measuring 62,500 km will be provided to unconnected habitations.

— The construction of required bridges along the alignment of the all-weather road will also be provided.

31,350 MW hydropower projects

The cabinet also approved the development of 31,350 MW hydropower projects with an outlay of ₹12,461 crore over the next eight years.

— The scheme will be applicable to all hydropower projects of more than 25 MW capacity including the private sector projects which have been allotted on a transparent basis.

“The modifications in the hydropower projects scheme approved by the Cabinet will boost infrastructure development in remote areas. It will accelerate hydropower growth, create jobs and drive investments in the sector,” said Modi.

PM E-drive scheme

The Cabinet approved the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore.

— The scheme will support 24.79 lakh e-2Ws, 3.16 lakh e-3Ws, and 14,028 e-buses. Scheme paves the way for electric ambulances, a crucial step towards integrating EVs into the health sector.

— The scheme allocates ₹500 crore for the deployment of e-ambulances. The performance and safety standards for e-ambulances will be formulated in consultation with MoHFW, MoRTH and other relevant stakeholders.