♦ Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Vaya Vandana Card under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) on 29 October 2024. This expanded scheme offers free health coverage of up to Rs.5 lakh annually for every citizen aged 70 years and above, irrespective of income or economic status. The initiative aims to provide dignified healthcare access to elderly citizens, many of whom have struggled with costly medical treatment.

♦ Prime Minister Modi announced the nationwide rollout of the U-WIN portal, a digital platform aimed at streamlining vaccinations for pregnant women and children. The platform will support 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants annually by fully digitalizing the vaccination process. It aims to ensure the timely delivery of essential vaccines to women and children (from birth to 16 years) for protection against 12 preventable diseases, as part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s flagship Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).