SRINAGAR: The Centre has told Parliament that 351 Jan Aushadhi Kendras (JAKs) under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana are currently functional in Jammu and Kashmir, while Ladakh has only three operational centres.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Jagat Prakash Nadda said that although 351 Kendras are operating in Jammu and Kashmir, 32 centres have been closed up to December 31, 2025.
The Minister said that nationwide, 17,990 Jan Aushadhi Kendras are functional, while 3,135 have shut down so far. He added that the government aims to open 25,000 Kendras by March 2027, with a special focus on remote and hilly areas, including Ladakh.
To encourage expansion in difficult regions, the Centre provides a one-time incentive of Rs 2 lakh for setting up Jan Aushadhi Kendras in Himalayan states, island territories and aspirational districts. Applications for all districts, including Ladakh, can be submitted online through the PMBJP portal.
Explaining the closures, the government said the Kendras operate on a franchise model and may shut due to poor sales, personal reasons of owners or logistical challenges. The implementing agency, PMBI, is offering hand-holding support to revive underperforming centres, including in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
