Content

1. PM-ABHIM
2. India’s Expanding Green Footprint

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PM-ABHIM

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Context

• Background: COVID-19 exposed critical gaps in India’s public health infrastructure—testing, surveillance, ICU capacity, and rural accessibility.
• Lesson: India required a decentralized, multi-tiered, and resilient health infrastructure for pandemic preparedness and public health emergencies.
• Response: Launched PM-ABHIM (Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission) on October 25, 2021, as part of India’s long-term pandemic response strategy.

Relevance

• GS-2 (Governance & Health Policy): Strengthening health systems, cooperative federalism in health governance, and decentralised service delivery.
• GS-2 (Social Justice): Universal Health Coverage (UHC), equitable healthcare access, and public health preparedness.
• GS-3 (Disaster Management): Pandemic resilience, critical care infrastructure, and One Health integration.

Objectives

• Strengthen health systems across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
• Ensure pandemic preparedness through upgraded surveillance, research, and critical care.
• Bridge service delivery gaps between urban and rural healthcare.
• Support Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and SDG-3 (Good Health & Well-being).

Policy Frameworks and Linkages

• National Health Policy (2017):
  • Stressed community-level health resilience and trained first responders.
  • Envisioned integrated disaster preparedness at all levels of governance.

• National Health Mission (2005):
  • Established decentralized, community-owned healthcare systems.
  • Improved MCH, disease control, and infrastructure—served as PM-ABHIM’s foundation.

• Ayushman Bharat (2018): Four Pillars
  • PM-JAY: Secondary & tertiary care insurance.
  • Arogya Mandirs (HWCs): Strengthened primary care.
  • ABDM: Digital health ecosystem.
  • PM-ABHIM: Physical infrastructure for resilience.

Budget and Timeframe

• Total Outlay (2021–26): ₹64,180 crore
  • Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS): ₹54,204.78 crore
  • Central Sector (CS): ₹9,339.78 crore
• Year-wise Allocation (₹ crore):

Year	Allocation (₹ crore)
2021–22	9,155.97
2022–23	10,465.09
2023–24	11,015.80
2024–25	13,551.30
2025–26	19,356.40
Total	63,544.56 + M&E (1%) = ₹64,180 crore

•  15th Finance Commission: Supported ₹19,272.43 crore share for health infrastructure augmentation.

Core Components

Primary Level (Community Access)

• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs):
  • Conversion of sub-health centres and PHCs into HWCs.
  • 17,788 building-less SHCs approved for AAMs.
  • 9,519 AAMs & 5,456 U-AAMs (urban slum areas) sanctioned.

Secondary Level (Block-level Strengthening)

• Block Public Health Units (BPHUs):
  • 3,382 planned; enhance surveillance, HR, and diagnostics.
  • Integrate with e-health and disease monitoring systems.

District Level

• Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs):
  • 730 under development (1 per district).
  • Ensure real-time testing, diagnostics, and outbreak investigation.

• Critical Care Hospital Blocks (CCBs):
  • 602 being set up in districts >5 lakh population.
  • Aim: 50–100 ICU beds per district for pandemic response.

Pandemic Preparedness and Surveillance Network

• Real-time IT-enabled Disease Surveillance:
  • Connects block → district → state → national labs.
  • Enables early detection and containment of infectious disease outbreaks.
• One Health Approach:
  • Integrates human, animal, and environmental health surveillance.
  • Aligns with global zoonotic disease control frameworks (e.g., WHO Pandemic Agreement).

Research and Innovation

• Encourages research on emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Supports collaboration with ICMR, DBT, and WHO’s PABS system for pathogen sharing and benefit access.
• Establishment of regional research hubs and bio-containment labs.

Global Framework links

• WHO Pandemic Agreement (May 2025):
  • Promotes equity in vaccine and diagnostic access.
  • Introduces Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) and Global Supply Chain & Logistics Network (GSCL).
  • Complements International Health Regulations (IHR, amended 2024) — both enhance outbreak readiness.

• Alignment with SDG-3 Targets:
  • End epidemics of communicable diseases by 2030.
  • Ensure access to safe, effective, affordable vaccines and medicines.
  • Achieve UHC through strengthened national health systems.

Administrative Progress

• Total approvals: ₹32,928.82 crore to States/UTs.
• Infrastructure Approved:
  • 9,519 AAMs
  • 5,456 U-AAMs
  • 2,151 BPHUs
  • 744 IPHLs
  • 621 CCBs
• Coverage: All States and UTs under CSS implementation mode (FY 2021–26).

Implementation Model

• Governance Mechanism:
  • Convergent approach between MoHFW, State Health Departments, and Local Bodies.
  • Regular monitoring via Health Management Information System (HMIS).

• Financing:
  • 60:40 (Centre: State) for most States.
  • 90:10 for NE & Hill States.
  • 100% for UTs without legislature.

• Integration:
  • PM-ABHIM + PM-JAY + ABDM = holistic health ecosystem (digital + financial + infrastructure).

Significance

• Marks India’s largest health infrastructure investment since Independence.
• Builds “Health Security Architecture” — resilient, responsive, and equitable.
• Supports Make in India in Health by boosting diagnostics and medical technology ecosystems.
• Strengthens India’s epidemic intelligence and critical care readiness.

Challenges

• Implementation capacity: Varies across States.
• Human resources: Shortage of trained epidemiologists, lab technicians, ICU staff.
• Maintenance: Sustainability post-2026 depends on State funding continuity.
• Urban-rural disparity: Urban AAM coverage still lower than target.

Way Forward

• Institutionalize National Public Health Cadre under NHP 2017 vision.
• Expand Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) for all 700+ districts.
• Leverage Digital Health Mission (ABDM) for telemedicine and data integration.
• Strengthen One Health and AMR surveillance through inter-ministerial coordination (MoHFW–MoA–MoEFCC).
• Periodic simulation exercises and pandemic drills across States.

Conclusion

• PM-ABHIM (2021–26) represents India’s transition from a reactive to proactive health system, embedding pandemic readiness into national development planning.
• With ₹64,180 crore investment, integration across levels, and alignment with SDG-3 and WHO’s Pandemic Agreement (2025), it has redefined India’s approach to health security.
• As India moves toward Universal Health Coverage by 2030, PM-ABHIM remains the backbone of a resilient, inclusive, and self-reliant healthcare infrastructure.

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India’s Expanding Green Footprint

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Context

• Report Released: Global Forest Resources Assessment (GFRA) 2025 by FAO on 22 October 2025.
• FAO (UN Agency): Leads international efforts on food security and sustainable natural resource management, including forests.
• Significance: GFRA is the world’s most comprehensive official database on forest area, change, and carbon balance, based on national submissions.

Relevance:

• GS-3 (Environment): Afforestation, carbon sequestration, and sustainable forest management.
• GS-3 (Climate Change): India’s contribution to global carbon sinks, NDC targets, and climate resilience.
• GS-2 (Governance): Community-based forest governance, JFMCs, and decentralised natural resource management.
• GS-1 (Geography): Distribution and trends in forest cover and land use change.

Global Forest Scenario (GFRA 2025)

• Total Global Forest Area: ~4.14 billion hectares, covering 32% of Earth’s land area (~0.5 ha per person).
• Regional Distribution:
  • Europe: 25% of global forests (largest area).
  • South America: 49% of its land area under forests (highest proportion).
  • Top 5 forest-rich nations: Russia, Brazil, Canada, USA, China (hold 54% of total global forests).
• Trend:
  • Net forest loss declined from 10.7 million ha/year (1990–2000) to 4.12 million ha/year (2015–2025) → indicates global slowdown in deforestation.

India’s Performance

• Rank in Total Forest Area: 9th globally (up from 10th in 2020).
• Rank in Net Annual Forest Area Gain: 3rd globally (maintained).
• Rank among Global Carbon Sinks: 5th — forests remove 150 million tonnes (Mt) of CO₂ per year (2021–25).
• India’s Forest Area: 72,739 thousand hectares (~72.7 million ha) → about 2% of global forest area.
• Share of Global Wood Removals: 9%, ranking 2nd globally (2023).

Forest Category Classification (FAO Framework)

• Naturally Regenerating Forests: Native species regenerating without planting.
• Planted Forests:
  • Plantation Forests: Managed for commercial species (e.g., rubber, eucalyptus).
  • Other Planted Forests: Planted but not commercially managed.
• Primary Forests: Intact native forests, no human intervention.

India’s Success in Planted Forests

Bamboo

• Global Bamboo Area: 30.1 million ha.
• Asia: 21.2 million ha (70%).
• India: 11.8 million ha → largest in Asia after China.
• Increase (1990–2025): +8.05 million ha globally → driven by India & China.

Rubber

• Global Rubber Plantations: 10.9 million ha.
• India: 831 thousand ha (0.831 million ha) → 5th globally.

Agro-forestry Contribution

• Asia’s Agroforestry Area: ~39.3 million ha, almost entirely from India & Indonesia.
• Global Agroforestry: 55.4 million ha → India + Indonesia = 70% share.
• Significance: Enhances carbon sequestration, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience.

Deforestation and net gains (1990–2025)

• India: Achieved net forest gain due to large-scale afforestation and reduced deforestation.
• Global Trend: Decline in deforestation rates + expansion in Asia and Europe.
• Drivers of India’s Net Gain:
  • National Afforestation Programmes.
  • Green India Mission.
  • Community-based Joint Forest Management (JFMCs).

Global Forest Carbon Sink Trends (2021–2025)

Parameter	Global Estimate (2021–2025)
Forest carbon sequestration	3.6 Gt CO₂ per year
Emissions from net forest conversion	2.8 Gt CO₂ per year
Net global sink effect	0.8 Gt CO₂ per year (down from 1.4 Gt in 2011–15)
Strongest regional sinks	Europe (1.4 Gt), Asia (0.9 Gt)

India’s Contribution

• Carbon removals: 150 Mt CO₂ per year (2021–25).
• Forest carbon sink rank: 5th globally.
• Emission reduction: Asia-wide deforestation emissions have declined significantly.

India’s domestic forest status (ISFR 2023)

• Total Forest Cover: 7,15,343 sq. km = 21.76% of India’s geographical area.
• Tree Cover (outside recorded forest): 2.82%.
• Combined Forest + Tree Cover: ~24.62% of India’s area.

Top States by Forest Area

Rank	State	Forest Area (sq km)
1	Madhya Pradesh	77,073
2	Arunachal Pradesh	65,882
3	Chhattisgarh	55,812

Mangroves

• India’s total mangrove cover: 4,992 sq km.
• Key states: A&N Islands, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal.

Protected Areas (2025)

• National Parks: 106
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: 573
• Conservation Reserves: 115
• Community Reserves: 220

Govt. initiatives towards forest expansion

(a) Budgetary Support (2025–26)

• MoEFCC Allocation: ₹3,412.82 crore (↑9% from ₹3,125.96 crore in 2024–25).
• Revenue Expenditure: ₹3,276.82 crore (96% of total).

(b) National Mission for a Green India (GIM)

• Launch: February 2014 under NAPCC.
• Objectives:
  • Expand 5 million ha of new forest/tree cover.
  • Improve quality of 5 million ha of existing forests.
  • Enhance carbon sinks & biodiversity.
  • Improve livelihoods of ~3 million forest-dependent families.

(c) National Afforestation Programme (NAP)

• Focus: Regeneration of degraded forests and adjoining areas.
• Implementation:
  • State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) – State level.
  • Forest Development Agency (FDA) – Division level.
  • Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) – Village level.

(d) Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)

• Global Recognition: UN Environment Assembly adopted a resolution based on India’s Mission LiFE philosophy.
• Initiatives:
  • MeriLiFE Portal – promotes sustainable actions.
  • “Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam” – mass plantation campaign linking environment to emotion.

Outcomes and Impact

• India’s Forest Cover (1990–2025): Continuous net positive growth.
• Carbon Sink Function: +150 Mt CO₂/year → vital for India’s NDC target of 2.5–3 Gt CO₂ equivalent carbon sink by 2030.
• Global Standing:
  • 9th in total area,
  • 3rd in net gain,
  • 5th in carbon removals.
• Social Impact: Improved rural livelihoods via agroforestry and bamboo-based industries.

Challenges

• Forest Degradation: Despite area gain, quality (canopy density) remains a concern — only dense forests form ~9.5% of area.
• Invasive Species: Lantana camara, Prosopis, etc., affecting biodiversity.
• Balancing Development & Conservation: Infrastructure projects encroaching into forest lands.
• Institutional Fragmentation: Overlaps among MoEFCC, State Forest Departments, and JFMCs.

Way Forward

• Increase Quality Forests: Focus on natural regeneration and dense cover improvement.
• Expand Urban Forestry: Integrate under Smart Cities and AMRUT 2.0.
• Promote Bamboo & Agroforestry Industries: For carbon credits and green jobs.
• Leverage Carbon Markets: Use India’s forest carbon removals in international carbon trading.
• Digitize Forest Data: Integrate ISFR + GFRA + Forest Fire Alerts + LiFE Portal into one unified dashboard.
• Community Empowerment: Incentivize JFMCs and Eco-Development Committees through Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES).

Conclusion

• India’s consistent rise in forest cover, carbon sink rank, and afforestation pace demonstrates a model of development aligned with ecological balance.
• With 72.7 million ha of forests, 9% of global wood removals, and 150 Mt CO₂ sequestration annually, India has emerged as a key contributor to global climate stability.
• Through policies like GIM, NAP, and Mission LiFE, India’s green growth aligns both with SDG-13 (Climate Action) and SDG-15 (Life on Land) — marking a decisive step toward carbon neutrality and environmental leadership by 2070.

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