Content
- National Beekeeping & Honey Mission
- Towards Universal Healthcare
National Beekeeping & Honey Mission
Why in News?
- NBHM reviewed its achievements (2020–2025) and extended implementation till FY 2025–26.
- India has become the 2nd largest exporter of honey globally (after China), up from 9th in 2020.
- Launch and success of Madhukranti Portal for digital traceability and transparency in honey trade.
- Strengthened infrastructure with 6 world-class testing labs, 97 FPOs formed, and USD 177.55 million exports in FY 2023–24.
Relevance
GS-3 (Economy, Agriculture, Environment):
- Rural income diversification, value-chain creation, agro-based entrepreneurship.
- Pollination & biodiversity enhancement — ecological services.
- Export promotion and traceability under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
GS-2 (Governance):
- Digital governance via Madhukranti Portal.
- Convergence among ministries (MoA&FW, MSME, TRIFED, APEDA).
GS-1 (Society):
- Women empowerment, traditional livelihoods, and rural transformation.
Introduction & Background
- Launched under Atmanirbhar Bharat (2020) as a Central Sector Scheme, implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB) under the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.
- Budget Outlay: ₹500 crore (FY 2020–21 to 2025–26).
- Objective: Promote scientific beekeeping, improve pollination, enhance farmers’ income, and enable a “Sweet Revolution”—akin to Green & White Revolutions.
- Beekeeping = Agro-based livelihood → Supports rural, landless, and small farmers; key part of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS).
Objectives
- Income & Employment Generation: Strengthen rural livelihoods via beekeeping.
- Infrastructure Development: Honey processing units, cold storage, branding, marketing centers.
- Quality Assurance: Regional & mini honey testing labs, disease diagnostic labs.
- Traceability & Digital Governance: Madhukranti portal; blockchain-based honey source tracking.
- Research & Technology: R&D, skill development, and pollination efficiency studies.
- Women Empowerment: Training & SHG-based beekeeping enterprises.
- Institutional Framework: Formation of FPOs, cooperatives, and federations.
Three Mini Missions
- Mini Mission-I (Production & Productivity):
- Focus on crop pollination via scientific beekeeping.
- Bee-friendly flora development & colony multiplication.
- Mini Mission-II (Post-Harvest & Value Addition):
- Focus on collection, processing, packaging, cold storage, and marketing.
- Infrastructure support for branding and value addition.
- Mini Mission-III (Research & Technology):
- Applied research on species, diseases, region-specific technologies.
- Development of honey corridors and IT-enabled traceability.
Progress & Achievements (As of March 2025)
- Production: 1.4 lakh MT natural honey (2024).
- Exports: 1.07 lakh MT valued at USD 177.55 million (FY 2023–24).
- Rank: 2nd largest global exporter of honey (up from 9th in 2020).
- Infrastructure Created:
- 6 World-class Honey Testing Labs
- 47 Mini Labs
- 6 Disease Diagnostic Labs
- 26 Honey Processing Units
- 10 Packaging & Cold Storages
- 12 Equipment Units
- 18 Branding & Marketing Units
- Technology Demonstrations:
- 424 ha demonstration area; 288 ha bee-flora plantations.
- Women Empowerment:
- 167 SHG-led activities across states.
- Institutional Development:
- 100 FPOs for beekeepers (97 formed by 2025) under NAFED, NDDB, TRIFED.
- Digital Integration:
- Madhukranti Portal: 14,859 beekeepers, 625+ institutions registered.
- Blockchain-based honey traceability system introduced.
- Policy Support:
- Minimum Export Price (MEP) for honey: USD 2,000/MT (₹167.1/kg) till Dec 2024.
- Centre of Excellence in Beekeeping: Established at IIT Roorkee.
Major Honey Producing States
- Uttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%), Rajasthan (9%).
- Key honey types: Rapeseed/Mustard, Eucalyptus, Lychee, Sunflower.
- Major Export Destinations: USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Libya.
Institutional & Implementation Framework
| Level | Key Bodies | Functions |
| National Level | Mission/PMU, GC/NLSC, PA&MC, EC, PAC | Coordination, policy direction, project appraisal, monitoring |
| State Level | State Level Steering Committee (SLSC) | Approvals, monitoring state projects |
| District Level | District Level Committee (DLC) | Local implementation, coordination |
| Implementing Agencies | NAFED, NDDB, TRIFED, ICAR, KVIC, SRLM/NRLM, MSME bodies | Field training, R&D, infrastructure creation |
Role of National Bee Board (NBB)
- Established: July 19, 2000; reconstituted in 2006.
- Objective: Promote scientific beekeeping, pollination efficiency, and market access.
- Functions: Implement NBHM, policy guidance, coordination with ICAR, FPOs, exporters, and ministries.
Success Stories
- Meghalaya (Nongthymmai Village):
- Traditional beekeeping evolved into profitable enterprise; ₹1–2 lakh annual income; local brand development and FPO formation.
- Kupwara, J&K:
- Government-backed bee colony distribution (2,000 colonies, 40% subsidy); ₹25 lakh bottling plant; GI-tagging under process; ₹3 crore turnover by 500 farmers.
Strategic Significance
- Economic: Boosts rural incomes, non-farm employment, and export diversification.
- Ecological: Enhances crop yields (pollination improves yield by 20–30%).
- Technological: Promotes traceability and lab-based quality assurance.
- Social: Empowers women and youth entrepreneurs.
- Diplomatic: Strengthens India’s export image for natural, traceable agri-products.
Challenges Ahead
- Disease management in bee colonies (Varroa mite, foulbrood).
- Climate and pesticide-related bee mortality.
- Quality control and adulteration issues in export markets.
- Low domestic consumption compared to global standards.
- Coordination gaps among multiple implementing agencies.
Way Forward
- Expand bee-flora corridors under MGNREGS & agroforestry missions.
- Enhance domestic honey consumption awareness (nutrition campaigns).
- Foster public-private partnerships in honey R&D and branding.
- Integrate NBHM with Mission LiFE and Millets Mission for holistic agro-sustainability.
- Promote organic certification and GI tagging of regional honey varieties.
Conclusion:
NBHM is transforming India’s apiculture landscape from a traditional livelihood to a modern, technology-driven, export-oriented ecosystem. It embodies the essence of the “Sweet Revolution” — blending economic empowerment, ecological sustainability, and rural entrepreneurship in the march toward Viksit Bharat @2047.
Towards Universal Healthcare
Why in News?
- Completion of 7 years of AB-PMJAY (launched 23 Sept 2018) — review of progress under Ayushman Bharat’s four pillars.
- Over 42 crore Ayushman Cards issued; 86.5 lakh senior citizens enrolled (as of Oct 2025).
- Scheme saved ₹1.52 lakh crore in out-of-pocket expenditure (Economic Survey 2024–25).
- Union Budget 2025–26 allocation increased to ₹9,406 crore — highest ever.
- Ayushman Bharat ecosystem (PMJAY, Arogya Mandirs, Digital Mission, ABHIM) progressing towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) — aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047 and SDG-3 (Good Health & Well-being).
Relevance
GS-2 (Governance, Welfare Schemes):
- Public healthcare financing and cooperative federalism.
- Governance innovation through digital & infrastructural convergence.
GS-3 (Economy, Human Capital, S&T):
- Role in improving human capital & productivity.
- Digital health ecosystem and data-driven policy.
GS-1 (Society):
- Impact on social equity, health justice, and inclusive development.
Introduction: Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Context
- UHC Objective: Ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare for all without financial hardship.
- National Health Policy 2017: Recognized dual disease burden (NCDs + communicable diseases) → called for financial risk protection & digital integration.
- Ayushman Bharat (2018): India’s umbrella program to operationalize UHC through 4 integrated pillars.
Four Pillars of Ayushman Bharat
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) – Financial risk protection (secondary & tertiary care).
- Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) – Strengthening primary healthcare access.
- Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) – Digital health infrastructure and interoperability.
- PM–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM–ABHIM) – Capacity creation & health infrastructure strengthening.
Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
Core Features
- Launched: 23 September 2018 under MoHFW.
- Coverage: Up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary & tertiary hospitalization.
- Beneficiaries: 12 crore+ poor and vulnerable families (≈ 55 crore people).
- Cashless, paperless treatment at both public and private empanelled hospitals.
- Portability: Treatment anywhere in India under the scheme.
- Implementing Agency: National Health Authority (NHA).
Progress (as of October 2025)
- Ayushman Cards issued: 42+ crore individuals.
- Hospitals empanelled: 33,000+ (17,685 public, 15,380 private).
- Senior Citizens (70+): 86.5 lakh enrolled (Ayushman Vay Vandana cards).
- Out-of-pocket savings: ₹1.52 lakh crore (Economic Survey 2024–25).
Budgetary Trends (Centre + States Shared Funding)
| FY | Budget (₹ crore) |
| 2019–20 | 6,556 |
| 2020–21 | 6,429 |
| 2021–22 | 6,401 |
| 2022–23 | 7,857 |
| 2023–24 | 7,200 |
| 2024–25 | 7,500 |
| 2025–26 | 9,406 |
- Funding Pattern: Shared between Centre & States (60:40; 90:10 for NE & UTs).
- Trend: Continuous increase → recognition of scheme’s importance in achieving UHC.
Outcomes
- Reduction in catastrophic health expenditure.
- Improved healthcare access for poor and rural populations.
- Boosted utilization of private sector facilities under public funding.
- Enhanced trust in public health insurance and digital integration.
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) – Primary Healthcare Revolution
- Upgraded Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) & Primary Health Centres (PHCs) into AAMs.
- Deliver comprehensive primary care beyond maternal–child health — include:
- NCD screening, mental health, oral–eye–ENT care, geriatrics, palliative care.
- Services Provided: Free essential drugs, diagnostics, emergency first-level care.
- Telemedicine Reach: 39.61 crore teleconsultations conducted (till Sept 2025).
- Role: First line of defence in healthcare continuum, esp. in rural India.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) – Digital Health Backbone
- Launched: 2021 to digitize health ecosystem.
- Key Component: ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) – unique 14-digit health ID enabling digital records & interoperability.
- Progress (as of Aug 2025):
- 79.9 crore ABHA IDs created.
- 4.18 lakh health facilities registered (Health Facility Registry).
- 6.79 lakh healthcare professionals registered (Health Professional Registry).
- 67.19 crore health records linked digitally.
- Enables continuity of care, portability, and data-driven policymaking.
PM–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM–ABHIM) – Systemic Strengthening
- Launched: 25 October 2021, post-COVID-19.
- Outlay: ₹64,180 crore (2021–26).
- ₹54,205 crore for states; ₹9,340 crore for central components.
- Objective: Build resilient public health infrastructure to handle pandemics & NCD burden.
- Components:
- Strengthen district hospitals & block labs.
- Establish integrated public health labs, disease surveillance units, critical care blocks, and research centres.
- Largest health infrastructure scheme since National Rural Health Mission (2005).
Overall Performance of Ayushman Bharat (as of 2025)
- 5,000+ crore spent by states/UTs on AAMs (FY 2022–25).
- Integration of digital + physical + financial health access.
- Improved service delivery at primary, secondary, tertiary levels.
- Enhanced resilience post-COVID and preparedness for health emergencies.
Strategic Significance
- Economic: Reduces poverty via financial risk protection; enhances productivity.
- Social: Ensures inclusion of marginalized (SC/ST/OBC, elderly, women).
- Institutional: Creates synergy between Centre & States in cooperative federalism.
- Technological: Foundation for National Digital Health Ecosystem (NDHE).
- Global Benchmark: World’s largest government-funded health insurance program.
Challenges
- Awareness & card utilization gap among rural poor.
- Delay in hospital empanelment and claim settlements.
- Private hospitals’ reluctance due to low package rates.
- Data integration & privacy safeguards under ABDM.
- Uneven health infrastructure across states.
Way Forward
- Expand outpatient (OPD) coverage and preventive care.
- Increase hospital participation and revise package rates.
- Integrate PMJAY with state-specific health insurance schemes.
- Strengthen digital literacy and data protection under ABDM.
- Build local-level health workforce through Skilling Missions.
- Ensure gender-sensitive and geriatric health inclusion.
Conclusion
Ayushman Bharat, through its four synergistic pillars, represents India’s transition from disease care to health care, from fragmented systems to integrated universal coverage.
The AB-PMJAY offers financial protection, Arogya Mandirs ensure primary access, ABDM provides digital continuity, and PM-ABHIM builds resilient infrastructure.
Together, they embody India’s march towards Universal Health Coverage and Viksit Bharat @2047—where no citizen is denied healthcare due to financial or geographic barriers.
