Content
- PM-ABHIM
- India’s Expanding Green Footprint
PM-ABHIM
Context
- Background: COVID-19 exposed critical gaps in India’s public health infrastructure—testing, surveillance, ICU capacity, and rural accessibility.
- Lesson: India required a decentralized, multi-tiered, and resilient health infrastructure for pandemic preparedness and public health emergencies.
- Response: Launched PM-ABHIM (Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission) on October 25, 2021, as part of India’s long-term pandemic response strategy.
Relevance
- GS-2 (Governance & Health Policy): Strengthening health systems, cooperative federalism in health governance, and decentralised service delivery.
- GS-2 (Social Justice): Universal Health Coverage (UHC), equitable healthcare access, and public health preparedness.
- GS-3 (Disaster Management): Pandemic resilience, critical care infrastructure, and One Health integration.
Objectives
- Strengthen health systems across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
- Ensure pandemic preparedness through upgraded surveillance, research, and critical care.
- Bridge service delivery gaps between urban and rural healthcare.
- Support Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and SDG-3 (Good Health & Well-being).
Policy Frameworks and Linkages
- National Health Policy (2017):
- Stressed community-level health resilience and trained first responders.
- Envisioned integrated disaster preparedness at all levels of governance.
- National Health Mission (2005):
- Established decentralized, community-owned healthcare systems.
- Improved MCH, disease control, and infrastructure—served as PM-ABHIM’s foundation.
- Ayushman Bharat (2018): Four Pillars
- PM-JAY: Secondary & tertiary care insurance.
- Arogya Mandirs (HWCs): Strengthened primary care.
- ABDM: Digital health ecosystem.
- PM-ABHIM: Physical infrastructure for resilience.
Budget and Timeframe
- Total Outlay (2021–26): ₹64,180 crore
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS): ₹54,204.78 crore
- Central Sector (CS): ₹9,339.78 crore
- Year-wise Allocation (₹ crore):
| Year | Allocation (₹ crore) |
| 2021–22 | 9,155.97 |
| 2022–23 | 10,465.09 |
| 2023–24 | 11,015.80 |
| 2024–25 | 13,551.30 |
| 2025–26 | 19,356.40 |
| Total | 63,544.56 + M&E (1%) = ₹64,180 crore |
- 15th Finance Commission: Supported ₹19,272.43 crore share for health infrastructure augmentation.
Core Components
Primary Level (Community Access)
- Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs):
- Conversion of sub-health centres and PHCs into HWCs.
- 17,788 building-less SHCs approved for AAMs.
- 9,519 AAMs & 5,456 U-AAMs (urban slum areas) sanctioned.
Secondary Level (Block-level Strengthening)
- Block Public Health Units (BPHUs):
- 3,382 planned; enhance surveillance, HR, and diagnostics.
- Integrate with e-health and disease monitoring systems.
District Level
- Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs):
- 730 under development (1 per district).
- Ensure real-time testing, diagnostics, and outbreak investigation.
- Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs):
- 602 being set up in districts >5 lakh population.
- Aim: 50–100 ICU beds per district for pandemic response.
Pandemic Preparedness and Surveillance Network
- Real-time IT-enabled Disease Surveillance:
- Connects block → district → state → national labs.
- Enables early detection and containment of infectious disease outbreaks.
- One Health Approach:
- Integrates human, animal, and environmental health surveillance.
- Aligns with global zoonotic disease control frameworks (e.g., WHO Pandemic Agreement).
Research and Innovation
- Encourages research on emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- Supports collaboration with ICMR, DBT, and WHO’s PABS system for pathogen sharing and benefit access.
- Establishment of regional research hubs and bio-containment labs.
Global Framework links
- WHO Pandemic Agreement (May 2025):
- Promotes equity in vaccine and diagnostic access.
- Introduces Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) and Global Supply Chain & Logistics Network (GSCL).
- Complements International Health Regulations (IHR, amended 2024) — both enhance outbreak readiness.
- Alignment with SDG-3 Targets:
- End epidemics of communicable diseases by 2030.
- Ensure access to safe, effective, affordable vaccines and medicines.
- Achieve UHC through strengthened national health systems.
Administrative Progress
- Total approvals: ₹32,928.82 crore to States/UTs.
- Infrastructure Approved:
- 9,519 AAMs
- 5,456 U-AAMs
- 2,151 BPHUs
- 744 IPHLs
- 621 CCBs
- Coverage: All States and UTs under CSS implementation mode (FY 2021–26).
Implementation Model
- Governance Mechanism:
- Convergent approach between MoHFW, State Health Departments, and Local Bodies.
- Regular monitoring via Health Management Information System (HMIS).
- Financing:
- 60:40 (Centre: State) for most States.
- 90:10 for NE & Hill States.
- 100% for UTs without legislature.
- Integration:
- PM-ABHIM + PM-JAY + ABDM = holistic health ecosystem (digital + financial + infrastructure).
Significance
- Marks India’s largest health infrastructure investment since Independence.
- Builds “Health Security Architecture” — resilient, responsive, and equitable.
- Supports Make in India in Health by boosting diagnostics and medical technology ecosystems.
- Strengthens India’s epidemic intelligence and critical care readiness.
Challenges
- Implementation capacity: Varies across States.
- Human resources: Shortage of trained epidemiologists, lab technicians, ICU staff.
- Maintenance: Sustainability post-2026 depends on State funding continuity.
- Urban-rural disparity: Urban AAM coverage still lower than target.
Way Forward
- Institutionalize National Public Health Cadre under NHP 2017 vision.
- Expand Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) for all 700+ districts.
- Leverage Digital Health Mission (ABDM) for telemedicine and data integration.
- Strengthen One Health and AMR surveillance through inter-ministerial coordination (MoHFW–MoA–MoEFCC).
- Periodic simulation exercises and pandemic drills across States.
Conclusion
- PM-ABHIM (2021–26) represents India’s transition from a reactive to proactive health system, embedding pandemic readiness into national development planning.
- With ₹64,180 crore investment, integration across levels, and alignment with SDG-3 and WHO’s Pandemic Agreement (2025), it has redefined India’s approach to health security.
- As India moves toward Universal Health Coverage by 2030, PM-ABHIM remains the backbone of a resilient, inclusive, and self-reliant healthcare infrastructure.
India’s Expanding Green Footprint
Context
- Report Released: Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 by FAO on 22 October 2025.
- FAO (UN Agency): Leads international efforts on food security and sustainable natural resource management, including forests.
- Significance: GFRA is the world’s most comprehensive official database on forest area, change, and carbon balance, based on national submissions.
Relevance:
- GS-3 (Environment): Afforestation, carbon sequestration, and sustainable forest management.
- GS-3 (Climate Change): India’s contribution to global carbon sinks, NDC targets, and climate resilience.
- GS-2 (Governance): Community-based forest governance, JFMCs, and decentralised natural resource management.
- GS-1 (Geography): Distribution and trends in forest cover and land use change.
Global Forest Scenario (GFRA 2025)
- Total Global Forest Area: ~4.14 billion hectares, covering 32% of Earth’s land area (~0.5 ha per person).
- Regional Distribution:
- Europe: 25% of global forests (largest area).
- South America: 49% of its land area under forests (highest proportion).
- Top 5 forest-rich nations: Russia, Brazil, Canada, USA, China (hold 54% of total global forests).
- Trend:
- Net forest loss declined from 10.7 million ha/year (1990–2000) to 4.12 million ha/year (2015–2025) → indicates global slowdown in deforestation.
India’s Performance
- Rank in Total Forest Area: 9th globally (up from 10th in 2020).
- Rank in Net Annual Forest Area Gain: 3rd globally (maintained).
- Rank among Global Carbon Sinks: 5th — forests remove 150 million tonnes (Mt) of CO₂ per year (2021–25).
- India’s Forest Area: 72,739 thousand hectares (~72.7 million ha) → about 2% of global forest area.
- Share of Global Wood Removals: 9%, ranking 2nd globally (2023).
Forest Category Classification (FAO Framework)
- Naturally Regenerating Forests: Native species regenerating without planting.
- Planted Forests:
- Plantation Forests: Managed for commercial species (e.g., rubber, eucalyptus).
- Other Planted Forests: Planted but not commercially managed.
- Primary Forests: Intact native forests, no human intervention.
India’s Success in Planted Forests
Bamboo
- Global Bamboo Area: 30.1 million ha.
- Asia: 21.2 million ha (70%).
- India: 11.8 million ha → largest in Asia after China.
- Increase (1990–2025): +8.05 million ha globally → driven by India & China.
Rubber
- Global Rubber Plantations: 10.9 million ha.
- India: 831 thousand ha (0.831 million ha) → 5th globally.
Agro-forestry Contribution
- Asia’s Agroforestry Area: ~39.3 million ha, almost entirely from India & Indonesia.
- Global Agroforestry: 55.4 million ha → India + Indonesia = 70% share.
- Significance: Enhances carbon sequestration, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience.
Deforestation and net gains (1990–2025)
- India: Achieved net forest gain due to large-scale afforestation and reduced deforestation.
- Global Trend: Decline in deforestation rates + expansion in Asia and Europe.
- Drivers of India’s Net Gain:
- National Afforestation Programmes.
- Green India Mission.
- Community-based Joint Forest Management (JFMCs).
Global Forest Carbon Sink Trends (2021–2025)
| Parameter | Global Estimate (2021–2025) |
| Forest carbon sequestration | 3.6 Gt CO₂ per year |
| Emissions from net forest conversion | 2.8 Gt CO₂ per year |
| Net global sink effect | 0.8 Gt CO₂ per year (down from 1.4 Gt in 2011–15) |
| Strongest regional sinks | Europe (1.4 Gt), Asia (0.9 Gt) |
India’s Contribution
- Carbon removals: 150 Mt CO₂ per year (2021–25).
- Forest carbon sink rank: 5th globally.
- Emission reduction: Asia-wide deforestation emissions have declined significantly.
India’s domestic forest status (ISFR 2023)
- Total Forest Cover: 7,15,343 sq. km = 21.76% of India’s geographical area.
- Tree Cover (outside recorded forest): 2.82%.
- Combined Forest + Tree Cover: ~24.62% of India’s area.
Top States by Forest Area
| Rank | State | Forest Area (sq km) |
| 1 | Madhya Pradesh | 77,073 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 65,882 |
| 3 | Chhattisgarh | 55,812 |
Mangroves
- India’s total mangrove cover: 4,992 sq km.
- Key states: A&N Islands, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal.
Protected Areas (2025)
- National Parks: 106
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: 573
- Conservation Reserves: 115
- Community Reserves: 220
Govt. initiatives towards forest expansion
(a) Budgetary Support (2025–26)
- MoEFCC Allocation: ₹3,412.82 crore (↑9% from ₹3,125.96 crore in 2024–25).
- Revenue Expenditure: ₹3,276.82 crore (96% of total).
(b) National Mission for a Green India (GIM)
- Launch: February 2014 under NAPCC.
- Objectives:
- Expand 5 million ha of new forest/tree cover.
- Improve quality of 5 million ha of existing forests.
- Enhance carbon sinks & biodiversity.
- Improve livelihoods of ~3 million forest-dependent families.
(c) National Afforestation Programme (NAP)
- Focus: Regeneration of degraded forests and adjoining areas.
- Implementation:
- State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) – State level.
- Forest Development Agency (FDA) – Division level.
- Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) – Village level.
(d) Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)
- Global Recognition: UN Environment Assembly adopted a resolution based on India’s Mission LiFE philosophy.
- Initiatives:
- MeriLiFE Portal – promotes sustainable actions.
- “Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam” – mass plantation campaign linking environment to emotion.
Outcomes and Impact
- India’s Forest Cover (1990–2025): Continuous net positive growth.
- Carbon Sink Function: +150 Mt CO₂/year → vital for India’s NDC target of 2.5–3 Gt CO₂ equivalent carbon sink by 2030.
- Global Standing:
- 9th in total area,
- 3rd in net gain,
- 5th in carbon removals.
- Social Impact: Improved rural livelihoods via agroforestry and bamboo-based industries.
Challenges
- Forest Degradation: Despite area gain, quality (canopy density) remains a concern — only dense forests form ~9.5% of area.
- Invasive Species: Lantana camara, Prosopis, etc., affecting biodiversity.
- Balancing Development & Conservation: Infrastructure projects encroaching into forest lands.
- Institutional Fragmentation: Overlaps among MoEFCC, State Forest Departments, and JFMCs.
Way Forward
- Increase Quality Forests: Focus on natural regeneration and dense cover improvement.
- Expand Urban Forestry: Integrate under Smart Cities and AMRUT 2.0.
- Promote Bamboo & Agroforestry Industries: For carbon credits and green jobs.
- Leverage Carbon Markets: Use India’s forest carbon removals in international carbon trading.
- Digitize Forest Data: Integrate ISFR + GFRA + Forest Fire Alerts + LiFE Portal into one unified dashboard.
- Community Empowerment: Incentivize JFMCs and Eco-Development Committees through Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES).
Conclusion
- India’s consistent rise in forest cover, carbon sink rank, and afforestation pace demonstrates a model of development aligned with ecological balance.
- With 72.7 million ha of forests, 9% of global wood removals, and 150 Mt CO₂ sequestration annually, India has emerged as a key contributor to global climate stability.
- Through policies like GIM, NAP, and Mission LiFE, India’s green growth aligns both with SDG-13 (Climate Action) and SDG-15 (Life on Land) — marking a decisive step toward carbon neutrality and environmental leadership by 2070.
