AYUSHMAN BHARAT AS A CATALYST FOR VIKSIT BHARAT 2047: A POLICY ANALYSIS

Under the national initiative of Viksit Bharat, India aims to become a developed nation by 2047, focusing on inclusive growth, social equity, and human development. A key pillar in this journey is a strong and equitable healthcare system that ensures access, affordability, and quality for all. Health, being both a means and an end of development, demands significant policy focus to enable productive human capital. The Ayushman Bharat Programme, launched in 2018, is a cornerstone health reform aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in India. This paper seeks to analyze the relevance and role of Ayushman Bharat in the broader vision of Viksit Bharat. It explores how the scheme contributes to reducing financial hardship in healthcare and makes health care accessible to all. It also evaluates some key limitations and proposes suggestions to improve its effectiveness. The paper argues that strengthening India‘s healthcare sector through Ayushman Bharat is indispensable for realizing a developed India by 2047.