Page 21 - NIS English 1-15 June, 2026

Health Cover Story

Years
of Vikas Yatra

India: Towards Health and Prosperity

Did you know that a one-year increase in average life expectancy translates to a 4 percent boost in a country’s GDP?
This is precisely why, for the first time in independent India’s history—starting in 2014—the health sector was not only
accorded priority but was also placed at the very top of the policy and political agenda by the current Central Government.
By ensuring a healthy future through the provision of affordable healthcare services, the Government of India has taken
significant strides toward achieving better outcomes over the past 12 years. Today, India is leading the world’s largest
healthcare program: Ayushman Bharat.

Overhauling health 818
education in 12 years The number of
172%
23 The increase in the Allopathic medical
colleges has

The number of AIIMS number of medical reached this figure
(up from 387
(All India Institutes seats over the last in 2014).
of Medical Sciences) 12 years.
323 1,28,975
in the country

Dental colleges, MBBS seats in 85,020
along with 942 AYUSH the country, a The number
institutions. significant rise of medical PG
from 51,384 in 2014 (Postgraduate) seats
in the country has
risen from 31,185 in
2014

Vaccination n Under the Mission Indradhanush
program launched in 2015, the
objective is to reach children and
pregnant women who have not
been vaccinated or have been only
partially vaccinated.
Vaccines are
administered to n Free vaccination is provided
newborns, children, and annually to 29 million pregnant
adolescents to protect women and 25.4 million newborns.
12 n The HPV vaccine was launched
against
in 2026 to protect against cervical
cancer.

n Full Immunization Coverage stood
different types of at 62% in 2015 and has risen to
diseases.
98.4% as of January 2026.
n During the COVID-19 pandemic,
India administered over 2 billion
doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

June 1-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 19