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250 words
Named thing
Scheme

National Health Mission

The National Health Mission is a flagship central government scheme designed to achieve universal access to equitable, affordable, and quality healthcare services across rural and urban populations by strengthening health systems and decentralising delivery.

Why it matters

  • It serves as the primary instrument for centrally supported health interventions in India, directly impacting health outcomes under General Studies Paper II.
  • The mission illustrates the dynamics of fiscal federalism and administrative devolution in health governance, where central funding supports state-executed health delivery.
  • It provides a framework for evaluating grassroots health cadre performance, institutional strengthening, and the transition toward comprehensive primary healthcare.

How it is asked

UPSC evaluates the National Health Mission through the lens of governance efficiency, health equity, and federal financial transfers under the social justice syllabus. Questions typically focus on structural bottlenecks such as regional infrastructure disparities, human resource deficits, and high out-of-pocket health expenditures. Candidates are often expected to analyze how NHM aligns with broader reforms like Ayushman Bharat to deliver universal health coverage.

Where it sits

Coverage

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