Ayushman Bharat Stars: States and UTs Leading Healthcare Transformation
Discover the states and Union Territories setting benchmarks in Ayushman Bharat implementation. From rapid pre-authorisations to digital health innovation, these regions are transforming India's healthcare landscape, making quality medical care accessible to millions. Learn about their achievements and the impact of their dedication.
Quick Navigation
India's Ayushman Bharat program, encompassing the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), stands as a monumental effort to provide accessible and affordable healthcare to millions. The success of this ambitious initiative heavily relies on the dedicated implementation by states and Union Territories (UTs) across the nation. Recognizing their pivotal role, the National Health Authority (NHA) consistently honors top performers for their outstanding contributions and innovative practices. These accolades not only celebrate achievements but also foster a spirit of healthy competition and knowledge sharing among regions, propelling India towards a healthier future.
Latest Recognitions: July 2026
In a recent two-day National Review Meeting (Chintan Shivir) held in New Delhi on July 17-18, 2026, the National Health Authority (NHA) presented 15 awards to states and UTs for their exceptional performance across various implementation indicators under AB PM-JAY and ABDM.
AB PM-JAY Excellence
- For achieving the highest number of VVS Cards per lakh population, Andhra Pradesh was recognized in the Large State category, Sikkim in the Small State category, and Lakshadweep in the Union Territory category.
- In the crucial area of security and efficiency, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands were honored for recording the highest number of pre-authorisations with biometric authentication in their respective categories.
ABDM Digital Health Leaders
- Several UTs were lauded for achieving ABDM Registry (Health Professional Registry & Health Facility Registry) Saturation, including Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep.
- Jammu & Kashmir (Medium State/UT) and Ladakh (Small State/UT) received recognition for achieving the highest health record linking per lakh population, demonstrating their commitment to digital health integration.
- Uttar Pradesh was specifically honored for its outstanding performance in ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account) creation and the adoption of Scan and Pay services under ABDM, marking a significant step towards seamless digital transactions in healthcare.
NHA Chintan Shivir: April 2026 Awards
During the NHA Chintan Shivir held in Pune in April 2026, a total of 18 awards under AB PM-JAY and 5 under ABDM were distributed, highlighting diverse areas of exemplary performance.
Key AB PM-JAY Recognitions:
- Overall Pre-authorisation Approval Turnaround Time (TAT): Uttarakhand (Large State), Goa (Small State), and Jammu & Kashmir (UT) were recognized for their efficiency in processing pre-authorisations.
- Portability TAT Performance: Odisha (Large State), Nagaland (Small State), and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (UT) excelled in ensuring smooth portability of healthcare benefits across regions.
- Highest Percentage of Bio-authentication: Gujarat (Large State), Mizoram (Small State), and Ladakh (UT) demonstrated high levels of secure bio-authentication.
- Completion of Mandatory Training Courses: Kerala (Large State), Meghalaya (Small State), and Puducherry (UT) were honored for ensuring their healthcare workforce received essential training.
- Efficient Processing of Suspicious Claims (TAT): Chhattisgarh (Large State), Tripura (Small State), and Jammu & Kashmir (UT) were acknowledged for their robust governance and monitoring systems in handling claims.
- High Trigger Efficacy: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh received joint recognition for their performance in this category.
ABDM Digital Innovators:
- Ladakh led in Scan & Share and health record linkages in model facilities.
- Uttar Pradesh was recognized for having the highest number of AB PM-JAY empanelled hospitals with ABDM-enabled HMIS and record linkages.
- Rajasthan received accolades for the maximum registration of private healthcare professionals and facilities.
- Tripura emerged as a top performer in awareness and capacity building initiatives (IEC).
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission Milestones
Beyond individual awards, several states and UTs have shown remarkable progress in scaling the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. As of May 30, 2026, the ABDM crossed the landmark of 90 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs).
- Uttar Pradesh leads the nation with over 15.3 crore ABHAs, followed by Rajasthan and Maharashtra with 7.1 crore each, Bihar with 6.3 crore, and West Bengal with 5.9 crore ABHAs.
- In terms of ABHA saturation relative to their population, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep have achieved high levels.
- Among larger States and UTs, Andhra Pradesh recorded 98.5% ABHA saturation, followed by Odisha (91.9%), Chandigarh (90.8%), Rajasthan (89.7%), Himachal Pradesh (88.9%), and Chhattisgarh (86.6%). Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, and Telangana also achieved saturation levels exceeding 75%.
Spotlight on Uttar Pradesh: 2025
In December 2025, Uttar Pradesh received national recognition for its outstanding performance in implementing AB-PMJAY, specifically for timely claim settlements, enhanced expenditure on serious illness treatment, and efficient grievance redressal. The state has notably increased claim payments, with approximately ₹2,200 crore disbursed from July 2025 to December 2025, nearly double the amount from the entire financial year 2024–25. Uttar Pradesh has also focused on strengthening clinical governance and integrating technology, such as the Scan & Share initiative, to reduce patient waiting times and improve health data capture.
Arogya Manthan 2023 Excellence Awards
The 'Arogya Manthan 2023' event, held in September 2023, celebrated the fifth anniversary of AB PM-JAY and the second anniversary of ABDM, honoring states and UTs for their significant contributions.
AB PM-JAY Categories:
- Highest Ayushman Card Creation: Assam, Nagaland, and Jammu & Kashmir were recognized for their efforts in extending coverage.
- Highest Percentage of Utilization in Public Hospitals: Karnataka and Tripura excelled in ensuring beneficiaries utilized public health facilities effectively.
- Nagaland received additional awards for prompt anti-fraud action, full utilization of allocated funds for hospital claims, and best claim settlement performance in the small states category.
- Uttar Pradesh was applauded for pioneering Ayushman inquiry centers and implementing the Green Channel payment system.
- Kerala received the award for best scheme utilization for the third consecutive year, a testament to its consistent performance.
- Assam, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand were recognized for best practices related to various aspects of AB PM-JAY implementation.
ABDM Digital Achievements:
- Andhra Pradesh was recognized as the Top State in Linking Health Records with ABHA.
- Uttar Pradesh emerged as the Top State in Generation of ABHA Scan and Share Tokens.
Arogya Manthan 2022: Ayushman Utkrishtata Puraskaar
At Arogya Manthan 2022 in September, the Ayushman Utkrishtata Puraskaar (Ayushman Excellence Awards) 2022 celebrated key achievements:
- Andhra Pradesh was named the Top Performing State.
- Kerala, Meghalaya, Gujarat, Manipur, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh were recognized as Best Performing States in the implementation of the health insurance scheme (AB PM-JAY and ABDM).
- Chandigarh and Jammu & Kashmir received awards as Best Performing Union Territories.
Driving Healthcare Forward
The consistent recognition of states and UTs underscores the collaborative efforts to strengthen India's healthcare ecosystem. From improving pre-authorization turnaround times and ensuring seamless portability to embracing digital health solutions like ABHA creation and Scan & Share services, these regions are at the forefront of extending comprehensive health coverage and services. Their innovative practices and dedication are crucial in realizing the vision of Ayushman Bharat – a healthy and digitally empowered India.