As India embarks on these transformative projects, the focus on both climate resilience and healthcare underscore the need to address pressing issues and foster sustainable development.

The union cabinet meeting on Wednesday, chaired by prime minister Narendra Modi, unveiled two significant initiatives: Mission Mausam and Expanding Healthcare Coverage for Senior Citizens under Ayushman Bharat.

Both Mission Mausam and the expansion of Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY signify two distinct approaches to bolster national resilience – one through advanced climate science and the other through enhanced healthcare coverage for the elderly. While Mission Mausam aims to prepare India for future climate challenges with cutting-edge technology and research, Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY’s expansion ensures that senior citizens receive crucial healthcare support irrespective of their financial status.

These initiatives aim to improve the quality of life while also safeguarding vulnerable populations and enhancing national preparedness for future uncertainties.

Mission Mausam

The Cabinet approved ‘Mission Mausam,’ a groundbreaking initiative with a budget of Rs. 2,000 crore over the next two years. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Mission Mausam aims to transform India’s capacity to handle weather-related challenges and climate change impacts through advanced scientific research and technology.

Mission Mausam is designed to revolutionize weather and climate sciences by integrating state-of-the-art observation systems, high-performance computing, and cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. This ambitious program will significantly enhance weather forecasting, climate modeling, and real-time data dissemination, setting new benchmarks for precision in weather predictions.

A cornerstone of the initiative is the deployment of next-generation radars and satellite systems equipped with advanced sensors. These technologies will work in tandem with high-performance supercomputers to improve atmospheric research and forecasting capabilities. The mission will also introduce improved Earth system models and a GIS-based automated Decision Support System to aid real-time data analysis and dissemination.

Mission Mausam’s benefits are expected to extend across numerous sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, defense, environment, aviation, water resources, power, tourism, shipping, transport, energy, and health. By enhancing data-driven decision-making, it will support better urban planning, transportation infrastructure, offshore operations, and environmental monitoring.

The implementation will involve three key institutes: the India Meteorological Department, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting. These institutions will be bolstered by support from other Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) entities and collaboration with national and international research institutions, academia, and industries.

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY

In a parallel move, the Cabinet approved an expansion of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) to include health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income. This expansion will benefit approximately 4.5 crore families, encompassing around six crore senior citizens.

Under this initiative, senior citizens will receive a health insurance cover of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year. Those already covered under the scheme will receive an additional top-up cover of Rs. 5 lakh annually, which is separate from the family’s existing coverage. For those not previously covered, the new coverage will be provided on a family basis.

Senior citizens aged 70 and above, who are currently benefiting from other public health insurance schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), or Ayushman CAPF, have the option to either continue with their existing schemes or switch to AB PM-JAY. Moreover, those under private health insurance or Employees’ State Insurance schemes can also avail themselves of the benefits under AB PM-JAY.

AB PM-JAY is recognized as the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance scheme, offering Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Since its inception, the scheme has provided over Rs. 1 lakh crore in health benefits and covered 7.37 crore hospital admissions, with nearly half of the beneficiaries being women.

The recent expansion aligns with the scheme’s history of growth, which initially began by covering 10.74 crore families. In January 2022, this number was increased to 12 crore families, reflecting India’s population growth. Additionally, the scheme was extended to include 37 lakh ASHAs, AWWs, and AWHs and their families.