With West Bengal joining the scheme, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY now covers every state and Union Territory in India. While the world’s largest government-funded health insurance programme has expanded financial protection and healthcare access, improving service quality and equitable access remains the next priority.
The Centre has announced over ₹94,000 crore in rural development commitments for West Bengal, reopening funding for employment, housing, infrastructure, and agriculture after years of political and financial deadlock. The success of the package will depend on timely implementation and sustained fund flow.
West Bengal reported its first Nipah virus death in nearly five years after a 25-year-old nurse succumbed to the infection. Authorities have launched contact tracing and confirmed no community spread so far. West Bengal has recorded its first Nipah virus–related death in recent years, with officials clarifying that this is the first confirmed fatality in…
