SRINAGAR: The Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been allocated Rs 1,077.72 crore under the National Health Mission for 2025-26, parliamentary records show. Of that allocation, Rs 443.64 crore has been released by the Centre and Rs 385.05 crore recorded as expenditure to date.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare told the Lok Sabha that central support under NHM for Jammu and Kashmir has varied in recent years: central releases were Rs 667.46 crore (expenditure Rs 657.53 crore) in 2020-21; Rs 459.10 crore (expenditure Rs 779.61 crore) in 2021-22; Rs 651.52 crore (expenditure Rs 917.02 crore) in 2022-23; Rs 805.22 crore (expenditure Rs 956.95 crore) in 2023-24; and Rs 1,040.76 crore (expenditure Rs 1,110.30 crore) in 2024-25. The 2025-26 allocation of Rs 1,077.72 crore is the highest budgeted central allocation for the Union territory in the period shown.
The ministry emphasised that NHM allocations are released to States and Union territories based on their Programme Implementation Plans and available resources. Nationally, NHM allocations have risen from Rs 31,100 crore in FY 2021-22 to a budget estimate of Rs 37,226.92 crore for FY 2025-26, the reply added, signalling increased central funding for health system strengthening across the country.
Officials noted that expenditure figures may at times exceed a single year’s release because States and Union territories draw on prior year balances together with the current year release. The ministry also pointed out that NHM funds are used for a wide range of purposes including strengthening health infrastructure, provisioning human resources, and improving access to services for underserved and marginalised populations.
The parliamentary annexure records year-wise central releases and expenditures under NHM for all States and Union territories. For Jammu and Kashmir the pattern shows a rising central commitment in recent years but also sizeable year-to-year fluctuation in releases and utilisation, reflecting the flexible, plan-based nature of NHM funding and the role of statelevel programme implementation.
Health officials in Jammu and Kashmir said the enhanced allocations are intended to support priority areas such as primary care, maternal and child health services, noncommunicable disease management, and strengthening of district hospitals and primary health centres. They added that timely release of central funds and improved absorption capacity at the district level will be critical to translate money on paper into better services on the ground.
