The National Health Authority (NHA) has recognized top-performing states and Union Territories for excellence in implementing Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), highlighting progress in digital health adoption and healthcare delivery.
Glimpse:
Announced in April 2026 during the NHA Chintan Shivir in Pune, 18 awards were presented under AB PM-JAY and 5 under ABDM to states and UTs for outstanding performance across key metrics such as pre-authorisation turnaround time, digital adoption, and health record integration. Leading performers included Uttarakhand, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Ladakh.
The National Health Authority (NHA) has recognised several states and Union Territories for their exceptional performance in implementing two of India’s flagship healthcare initiatives Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). The recognition took place during a two day Chintan Shivir held in Pune, bringing together policymakers and healthcare leaders to discuss innovation, digital transformation, and collaborative governance in healthcare.
Under AB PM-JAY, a total of 18 awards were distributed across various performance indicators. Uttarakhand (Large State), Goa (Small State), and Jammu & Kashmir (UT) were recognized for excellence in overall pre-authorisation approval turnaround time (TAT). Odisha, Nagaland, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu stood out for portability TAT performance.
Additional recognitions included Gujarat, Mizoram, and Ladakh for achieving high levels of bio-authentication, while Kerala, Meghalaya, and Puducherry were honoured for completing mandatory training courses. States such as Chhattisgarh, Tripura, and Jammu & Kashmir were also acknowledged for efficient processing of suspicious claims, reflecting strong governance and monitoring systems.
Under the ABDM category, five awards highlighted progress in digital health adoption. Ladakh was recognized for leading in Scan & Share and health record linkages, while Uttar Pradesh was honoured for having the highest number of ABDM-enabled hospitals with integrated systems. Rajasthan received recognition for registering the highest number of healthcare professionals and facilities, and Tripura emerged as a top performer in awareness and capacity building initiatives.
The event also showcased several best practices from states. Karnataka presented its online referral system, Gujarat highlighted improvements in clinical governance through digital verification systems, and Jharkhand demonstrated how PM-JAY incentives helped upgrade hospital infrastructure and services.
A key focus of the discussions was the growing role of digital health infrastructure. Initiatives such as interoperable Hospital Management Information Systems (HMIS) and the ABDM State Adoption Index are helping standardize performance measurement, improve transparency, and enable data driven decision making across states.
NHA CEO Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal emphasized that while digital transformation is essential, states must adopt strategies tailored to their unique needs and levels of digital maturity. He encouraged continued collaboration and sharing of best practices to strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem.
Overall, the recognition highlights India’s accelerating progress toward a digitally integrated, data driven healthcare system, where both service delivery and governance are increasingly powered by technology and innovation.
“The Chintan Shivir has emerged as a vital platform for collective deliberation.”
By
HB Team
