The Ayushman Bharat Scheme has made significant strides since its launch in 2018. Below is an overview of its objectives, components, and recent achievements:

About Ayushman Bharat Scheme

• Launch and Objective:
• Launched in 2018, following the recommendations of the National Health Policy 2017.
• Aims to achieve Universal Health Coverage, ensuring that everyone has access to necessary health services without financial hardship.
• Sustainable Development Goals:
• Supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, which focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, emphasizing the commitment to "leave no one behind."
• Components:
• The scheme consists of two inter-related components:
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):
• Provides health insurance coverage of ₹5 lakhs per year to over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families for secondary and tertiary care.
• Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs):
• Aims to strengthen primary healthcare services across the country.

Progress and Achievements

• Card Distribution:
• As of January 2024, the scheme surpassed 30 crore Ayushman cards, facilitating access to health services for millions.
• Technology Initiatives:
• To enhance outreach, the National Health Authority (NHA) launched the ‘Ayushman App’ for the creation of Ayushman cards, improving accessibility for beneficiaries.
• State Performance:
• Uttar Pradesh leads with 4.83 crore Ayushman cards, followed by Madhya Pradesh (3.78 crore) and Maharashtra (2.39 crore).
• Gender Equity:
• The scheme has achieved notable gender equity, with 48% of treatments provided under Ayushman Bharat availed by female beneficiaries, highlighting its inclusive approach.

Beneficiary Demographics

• Recent data from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare indicates that beneficiaries aged 70 years and above constituted over 12% of all admissions under the scheme, reflecting its impact on the elderly population.

The Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme has shown significant engagement with older beneficiaries, particularly those aged 70 and above. Here’s an overview of the latest data and trends:

Key Statistics and Trends

• Elderly Beneficiary Data:
• As of January 2024, beneficiaries aged 70 years and above accounted for over 12% of all admissions under the scheme and nearly 14% of the total expenditure.
• The government's plan to expand Ayushman Bharat to include all individuals over 70, regardless of their economic status, is expected to add nearly 4 crore new beneficiaries.
• Impact of Coverage Expansion:
• Including older individuals of means may lead to increased utilization of the scheme and rising costs, as this demographic often requires more comprehensive healthcare services.

Budget Allocations

• In the interim budget presented in February, the scheme was extended to include ASHA and Anganwadi workers. However, the July budget did not mention any further expansions, though there was a slight increase in the allocation to ₹7,300 crore.

Aging Population in India

• India's aging population is projected to grow from 8.6% in 2011 to 19.5% by 2050, tripling in absolute numbers from 103 million to 319 million.

Hospital Admissions and State Performance

• State Variability:
• Hospital admissions for older individuals exceeded their population share in several states, with Maharashtra leading at 20.49% of admissions attributed to the elderly.
• Tamil Nadu recorded the lowest proportion of admissions at 3.12% but incurred higher treatment costs for the elderly population.
• Spending on Elderly Care:
• States such as Maharashtra, Kerala, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar exhibited the highest proportions of spending on elderly care, reflecting regional disparities in healthcare access and expenditure.

Treatment Costs and Challenges

• Treatments for elderly individuals tend to be costlier due to:
• Longer healing times and the higher likelihood of secondary infections.
• Increased need for ICU care and management of multiple comorbidities.

Conclusion

The Ayushman Bharat Scheme has made notable progress in providing healthcare access to the elderly population in India. With the projected increase in the aging demographic, the scheme's expansion to include older individuals will be crucial in addressing their healthcare needs. Ongoing monitoring of expenditure and utilization patterns will be essential to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the program in the face of rising demand.

Exercise Tarang Shakti 2024 is the Indian Air Force's (IAF) largest-ever multilateral air exercise, marking India's first multilateral air drill in six decades. This exercise, involving around 150 aircraft and participants from nearly 30 countries, serves to strengthen military partnerships and demonstrate air power on a global scale. It is part of India's growing focus on defense cooperation and highlights the country's evolving defense industry

Key points about the exercise include:

• Two phases:
• The first phase, hosted in Sulur, Tamil Nadu, featured air forces from 10 countries, including France, Spain, and Germany.
• The second phase, scheduled for September, includes participants from the US, Australia, Greece, Singapore, Bangladesh, and the UAE.

The exercise's timing, aligned with India's Independence Day, emphasizes its importance in boosting military cooperation and showcasing the country's defense capabilities. Despite its large scale, Tarang Shakti 2024 does not have a specific theme or target any particular nation. It is a biennial event intended to promote interoperability and mutual trust among participating countries.

Recent News

• Incident: A violent clash erupted between two rival groups of the Namdhari sect in Rania, Sirsa district, Haryana. The conflict highlights ongoing tensions within the sect.

Historical Background

• Founder: The Namdhari sect was founded by Satguru Ram Singh on Baisakhi in 1857.
• Key Ideals: Ram Singh challenged existing social norms and resisted British colonial rule. His reforms included advocating for social justice and opposing certain traditional practices.
• British Repression: The British authorities responded harshly to his activities, deporting him to Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar), from which he never returned. The sect faced severe repression, including the imposition of harsh punishments.

Beliefs and Practices

• Religious Texts: Namdhari Sikhs revere the Guru Granth Sahib as the Supreme Gurbani, but they also believe in the guidance of a living Guru.
• Ram Singh’s Status: Followers believe that Satguru Ram Singh is still alive in a spiritual sense and will return one day. In mourning his physical absence, they traditionally wear white clothing.
• Dietary Practices: The sect practices strict dietary restrictions:
• Sacred Cow: The cow is considered sacred.
• Prohibition of Alcohol and Caffeine: Members avoid alcohol, tea, and coffee.

Headquarters and Presence

• Headquarters: The main center of the Namdhari sect is located in Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana, Punjab, near the village of Raiyaan, which is also the birthplace of Ram Singh.
• Regional Presence: The sect has several deras (spiritual centers) across Punjab and Haryana. It also maintains a presence in a few other countries, reflecting its diaspora and global outreach.

Key Features of the Sect

• Social Reform: The Namdhari sect has a history of advocating social reform and challenging social injustices.
• Cultural Identity: The wearing of white and the prohibition of certain substances are integral to their cultural and religious identity.
• International Presence: Despite being primarily based in India, the sect's influence extends to other countries through its diaspora communities.

The recent conflict within the Namdhari sect underscores internal divisions, but it is also a reminder of the sect’s historical and ongoing influence in the socio-religious landscape of India.

Why in the News?

Prime Minister's recent Independence Day speech emphasized the need for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), advocating for a secular civil framework over the current religion-based personal laws.

About Uniform Civil Code (UCC)

• Definition: UCC refers to a unified set of personal laws applicable to all citizens, regardless of religion, governing matters such as marriage, divorce, maintenance, inheritance, adoption, and succession.
• Current Status:
• Most personal matters in India are governed by respective religious laws.
• Goa has a form of a common civil code under the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867, while Uttarakhand adopted UCC in 2024.
• The 21st Law Commission of India (2018) suggested reforms in family laws rather than an immediate formulation of UCC.

Need for UCC in India

• Constitutional Duty: Article 44 mandates the state to secure a UCC for all citizens, promoting gender justice, national integration, and equality before the law.
• Modernizing Laws: Current laws dividing citizens based on religion must be abolished to facilitate societal progress (e.g., polygamy in Muslim law).
• International Obligations: Aligning with human rights conventions, UCC can strengthen India’s commitment to international norms.
• Simplification of Laws: A standardized legal framework would ensure efficient dispute resolution.
• Adapting to Contemporary Society: UCC would promote inclusivity and individual freedoms, aligning laws with modern values.

Supreme Court Judgments on UCC

• Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano Begum (1985): Advocated for gender justice and uniformity in personal laws.
• Sarla Mudgal v. Union of India (1995): Called for reforming personal laws to prevent misuse.
• Shayra Bano v. Union of India (2017): Declared talaq-e-biddat as arbitrary, reinforcing the need for reform.

Issues Associated with Implementing UCC

• Cultural Diversity: UCC could undermine cultural and religious identities, potentially violating Article 25 (freedom of religion).
• Lack of Consensus: Implementing UCC without community agreement could lead to social unrest.
• Federalism Concerns: Critics argue that UCC could infringe upon states' legislative powers, undermining cooperative federalism.

Way Forward for Implementing UCC in India

• Consensus Building: Engage various stakeholders through inter-faith dialogues to prevent social discord.
• Socio-economic Impact Analysis: Consider the effects on marginalized communities, incorporating protective provisions.
• Education and Awareness: Promote understanding of UCC’s principles to foster a progressive outlook.
• Codification of Personal Laws: Establish universal principles through codification to ensure fairness and consistency in legal matters.