CHANDIGARH, July 10 —To universalize access to healthcare, the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government on Thursday approved the Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana, a cashless medical treatment scheme offering up to ₹10 lakh in annual coverage to every household in the state. The scheme will roll out from October 2, covering all 3 crore residents, regardless of income.
Chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Cabinet approved the scheme during a meeting held at his official residence. “This initiative will ensure no Punjabi is denied medical treatment due to financial constraints,” Mann said.
A government spokesperson confirmed that Punjab is the first state in India to bring every family under a comprehensive health scheme of this scale. Previously, treatment under state schemes was capped at ₹5 lakh and limited by income eligibility. “Now, all residents — including government employees and pensioners — are eligible, and there will be no income threshold,” the spokesperson added.
Treatment under the scheme will be available at all government hospitals and over 550 empaneled private hospitals across the state — a number expected to rise to 1,000. Health cards will be issued through Sewa Kendras and Common Service Centres (CSCs), and residents can also register online using their Aadhaar or voter ID cards.
With this move, Punjab becomes the only state to offer free healthcare, education, electricity, and bus travel, officials said. “This is a model for welfare governance that puts the dignity and well-being of the common citizen at the centre,” Mann remarked.
Relief for Real Estate Sector
In another key decision, the Cabinet also offered a reprieve to real estate developers by postponing the implementation of revised charges under the Change of Land Use (CLU), External Development Charges (EDC), and License Fee (LF) frameworks.
These charges, originally scheduled to apply to all new and extended projects from April 1, 2025, under a June 4 notification, will now come into effect from June 4, 2025. As per the revised timeline, projects submitted before that date will continue to be charged under the existing rates.
The Cabinet’s decision is being seen as a bid to stabilize the investment environment and reassure developers. “This will provide a clear window for ongoing and proposed projects to comply without the shock of immediate financial burden,” said a senior official from the housing department.
Both decisions — the universal health scheme and the deferment of new real estate levies — reflect the state government’s dual focus on citizen welfare and economic stability.
