Question

Consider the following statements with reference to the healthcare sector in Budget 2020.

1. Out of the total amount allocated for Healthcare, Rs. 6,400 crore was assigned to 'PM Jan Arogya Yojana'.

2. In this budget, Rs. 79,000 crore was allocated for Healthcare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Only 1
2. Both 1 and 2
3. Only 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Only 1

The correct answer is Only 1.

• The Budget for FY 2021-22 has come up with a holistic approach to health, incorporating ‘preventive’, ‘curative’, and ‘well-being’ aspects with an increase of 137% as compared to the previous fiscal.
• India’s health infrastructure came under considerable strain in 2020, with 11 million Covid cases and perhaps over a million requiring hospitalisation.
• PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY)/ Ayushman Bharat:
  • Viability Gap Funding window proposed for setting up hospitals in the PPP model.
  • Aspirational Districts with no Ayushman empanelled hospitals to be covered in the first phase.
  • The government has allocated Rs 6,400 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) for 2019-20. ​Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The Budget has committed to an outlay of 2,23,846 crore in health and well-being for 2021-22, a 137% increase over the previous year’s Budget Estimate of 94,452 crores. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• This includes a 60,030 crore outlay on drinking water and sanitation, a 2,700 crore outlay on nutrition, nearly 49,000 crores as Finance Commission grants and 35,000 crores toward vaccination.

• The Budget is presented on 1st February so that it can materialise before the commencement of the new financial year which starts on 1st April. 
• In 2017, a 92-year-old tradition was broken when the railway budget was merged with the Union Budget and presented together.
• The aim of the Union budget is:
  • To achieve seamless delivery of services through Digital governance.
  • To improve the physical quality of life through the National Infrastructure Pipeline.
  • Risk mitigation through Disaster Resilience.
  • Social security through Pension and Insurance penetration.