SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir received Rs 2,863.12 crore in central releases under the National Health Mission (NHM) during 2023-24 to 2025-26 for strengthening healthcare services, including rural healthcare, while expenditure reported during the period stood at Rs 3,247.96 crore, according to data placed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The figures show that expenditure in JK exceeded the central releases during each of the three years. The Union Government released Rs 805.22 crore in 2023-24 against reported expenditure of Rs 956.95 crore, Rs 1,040.76 crore in 2024-25 against expenditure of Rs 1,110.30 crore, and Rs 1,017.14 crore in 2025-26 against expenditure of Rs 1,180.71 crore.
For the current financial year 2026-27, JK had received Rs 163.53 crore in central NHM releases as of July 13, 2026, while expenditure reported up to May 31, 2026, was Rs 74.61 crore. The Union Government clarified that the 2026-27 release figure is provisional and the expenditure figures are based on Financial Management Reports submitted by States and UTs.
Ladakh received Rs 398.66 crore in central NHM releases during 2023-24 to 2025-26, while expenditure was reported at Rs 409.15 crore. Its annual central releases stood at Rs 120.44 crore, Rs 135.98 crore and Rs 142.24 crore, respectively, against expenditure of Rs 119.67 crore, Rs 150.50 crore and Rs 138.98 crore. In 2026-27, Ladakh had received Rs 35.71 crore, with expenditure of Rs 9.63 crore reported as of May 31.
The Union Government said public health and hospitals are State subjects and the primary responsibility for strengthening public healthcare rests with States and UTs. However, the Centre supports all States and UTs through the NHM, with funding proposals submitted annually through Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs). Approvals are granted through Records of Proceedings based on available resources and approved norms and guidelines.
The data does not provide a national average allocation per State or UT, as NHM releases vary according to the requirements and approved proposals of individual States and UTs. In absolute terms, JK’s annual central releases were considerably lower than those of larger States such as Uttar Pradesh, which received Rs 4,928.14 crore in 2023-24, Rs 5,853.43 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 5,686.12 crore in 2025-26.
Among the Union Territories, JK received substantially higher NHM central releases than Ladakh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu during the three-year period. JK’s 2025-26 release of Rs 1,017.14 crore was also higher than that of several smaller States, including Himachal Pradesh (Rs 572.05 crore), Goa (Rs 51.20 crore) and Sikkim (Rs 99.18 crore).
The Centre said that, apart from NHM, support for strengthening healthcare systems, including rural healthcare, has also been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) amounting to Rs 32,961.10 crore. A further Rs 59,811.80 crore was released to States under the 15th Finance Commission Health Grants for strengthening healthcare systems, including rural components.
The Union Health Ministry said the NHM data covers central government grants and does not include the States’ share. Expenditure includes spending against central releases, State releases and unspent balances carried forward from the beginning of the financial year.
