He also promised strict action on illegal immigration, stating that stronger measures would be taken in the near future
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that one of the first decisions of the new cabinet would be the clearance of the Ayushman Bharat health scheme for West Bengal, as he thanked voters in the state for giving the BJP a strong mandate in the Assembly elections
Addressing BJP workers in New Delhi after the results, PM Modi said, “In first cabinet meet, Ayushman Bharat will get green nod,” he said.
He also promised strict action on illegal immigration, stating that stronger measures would be taken in the near future.
“Strong actions against illegal immigrants will come soon,” the Prime Minister added.
The Centre’s health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides cashless cover of Rs 5 lakh to families per year. The scheme automatically covers all citizens who are over 70 years old.
Except for West Bengal, 35 states and Union Territories currently implement the government’s health insurance scheme for citizens.
Though Ayushman Bharat is a centrally sponsored programme, its cost is shared between the Centre and state governments. The scheme, which became highly popular due to the high cost of medical treatment that can significantly impact household savings, was also implemented last year by Odisha and Delhi.
West Bengal, under the rule of the Trinamool Congress, and Delhi, when governed by the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal, had previously declined to adopt the Ayushman Bharat scheme, stating that they already operate their own state health insurance programmes.
The Centre had earlier criticised these governments, accusing them of prioritising politics over citizens’ healthcare needs.
With inputs from agencies
First Published:
May 04, 2026, 21:33 IST
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