Government schemes

Central and state schemes explained in plain language, each with a link to the official source.

16 schemes for “health insurance”

HealthCentral

Ayushman Vay Vandana Card (70+)

₹5 lakh yearly health cover for senior citizens aged 70 or above, shared by the seniors in a family

For: All citizens aged 70 and above, whatever their income

See eligibility and documents

Farming & alliedCentral

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana

Crop insurance at a low farmer premium (about 1.5% to 2% for most food crops)

For: Farmers, including tenants and sharecroppers, growing notified crops in notified areas

See eligibility and documents

Farming & alliedCentral

Soil Health Card Scheme

Free soil testing with crop-wise fertiliser recommendations

For: All farmers with agricultural land

See eligibility and documents

HealthCentral

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

Cashless hospital treatment up to ₹5 lakh per family each year at empanelled hospitals

For: Families on the eligible list, and all senior citizens aged 70 and above

See eligibility and documents

Pension & insuranceCentral

PM Suraksha Bima Yojana

₹2 lakh accident insurance for a premium of ₹20 a year

For: Bank or post office account holders aged 18 to 70

See eligibility and documents

Pension & insuranceCentral

PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana

₹2 lakh life insurance for a premium of ₹436 a year

For: Bank or post office account holders aged 18 to 50

See eligibility and documents

HealthCentral

Janani Suraksha Yojana

Cash assistance for delivering in a government or accredited health facility

For: Pregnant women, with a focus on low-income, SC and ST households

See eligibility and documents

Pension & insuranceCentral

Atal Pension Yojana

Guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 after the age of 60

For: Citizens aged 18 to 40 with a savings bank account

See eligibility and documents

Pension & insuranceCentral

PM Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan

₹3,000 monthly pension after the age of 60, with a matching government contribution

For: Unorganised workers aged 18 to 40 earning up to ₹15,000 a month

See eligibility and documents

Pension & insuranceCentralStatus changed: check

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension

Monthly pension for senior citizens; the central share is topped up by each state

For: People aged 60 and above from below-poverty-line households

See eligibility and documents

Pension & insuranceCentralStatus changed: check

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension

Monthly pension for widows; the central share is topped up by each state

For: Widows aged 40 and above from below-poverty-line households

See eligibility and documents

Pension & insuranceCentralStatus changed: check

Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension

Monthly pension for persons with severe disability; states add their own share and often cover more people

For: Persons aged 18 and above with severe or multiple disabilities from below-poverty-line households

See eligibility and documents

Work & livelihoodState Building & Other Construction Workers Welfare Boards

Construction worker (BOCW) welfare board registration

Access to board benefits such as children’s education aid, maternity and medical help, and pension (they differ by state)

For: Building and construction workers aged 18 to 60

See eligibility and documents

Work & livelihoodCentral

Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

A zero-balance bank account with a RuPay card and accident insurance cover

For: Anyone without a bank account

See eligibility and documents

Women & childrenCentral

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

₹5,000 in two instalments for the first child; ₹6,000 for a second child if she is a girl

For: Pregnant women and mothers of newborns

See eligibility and documents

Women & childrenWest BengalStatus changed: check

Lakshmir Bhandar / Annapurna Bhandar

Monthly cash transfer to women by direct bank transfer; the amount has changed, so check the current figure

For: Women aged 25 to 60 living in West Bengal

See eligibility and documents