National Health Programs of India for NEET PG 2026: Complete Guide

NHPs are the single most India-specific section of the NEET PG syllabus. Examiners drill on programme acronyms, target groups, eligibility cutoffs, cash-incentive amounts, and recent rebrandings (RNTCP → NTEP, MTP Act amendment 2021, etc.). Memorising launch years and target diseases buys easy marks.

This NEETPGAI deep dive maps every major Indian programme to its target population, intervention package, eligibility criteria, and the most-tested exam traps. Pair this with the PSM subject hub and the epidemiology and biostatistics guide for complete PSM coverage.

Communicable disease programmes

NTEP — National TB Elimination Programme (formerly RNTCP)

• Goal: Eliminate TB by 2025 (India target, ahead of SDG 2030).
• Diagnosis: CBNAAT/Truenat as first-line; sputum smear when molecular unavailable.
• Treatment: Daily fixed-dose combinations (HRZE intensive 2 months → HR continuation 4 months).
• Notification: All TB cases (public and private) must be notified on Nikshay portal — failure is punishable.
• Nikshay Poshan Yojana: 500 INR/month cash transfer to TB patients for nutritional support.
• Active case finding (ACF): house-to-house screening in vulnerable populations.
• DR-TB regimen: all-oral shorter regimens (BPaL/BPaLM with bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, moxifloxacin).

NLEP — National Leprosy Eradication Programme

• Status: Elimination as a public health problem achieved (prevalence <1/10,000) in 2005.
• MDT regimen: Paucibacillary (rifampicin + dapsone for 6 months); multibacillary (rifampicin + dapsone + clofazimine for 12 months).
• SPARSH (Sparsh Leprosy Awareness Campaign) integrated under NLEP.

NVBDCP — National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme

Covers 6 diseases: malaria, dengue, chikungunya, lymphatic filariasis, kala-azar, Japanese encephalitis.

NACP — National AIDS Control Programme (Phase V, 2021–26)

• 90-90-90 → 95-95-95 targets (95% diagnosed, 95% on ART, 95% virally suppressed).
• ICTCs (Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres) at every PHC and above.
• PPTCT uses single-dose nevirapine plus ART; option B+ (life-long ART for all HIV+ pregnant women).

Maternal-child health programmes

RMNCH+A — Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health

Umbrella strategy including:

• JSY (Janani Suraksha Yojana, 2005) — Cash incentive for institutional delivery: 1,400 rural / 1,000 urban (low-performing states); 700 rural / 600 urban (high-performing states).
• JSSK (Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, 2011) — Free delivery, C-section, drugs, diet, diagnostics, blood, transport for pregnant women and sick neonates up to 1 year.
• PMSMA (Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan) — Free ANC on the 9th of every month with specialist examination.
• SUMAN (Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan, 2019) — Zero-tolerance for denial of services; assured free maternity care.
• LaQshya — Labour room quality improvement initiative.

Mission Indradhanush

• Launched 2014; Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 (2023) is current phase.
• Targets unimmunised and partially immunised children <5 years and pregnant women in low-coverage districts.
• Covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases: BCG, OPV, hepatitis B, pentavalent (DPT-HepB-Hib), rotavirus, IPV, PCV, MR, JE, DPT booster, TT, plus DT.
• Coverage target: 90% full immunisation.

RBSK — Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram

• Targets children 0–18 years for 4 Ds: Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Developmental delays/disability.
• Mobile health teams screen Anganwadi and school children.
• Linked to DEIC (District Early Intervention Centres) for tertiary management.

RKSK — Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram

• Targets adolescents 10–19 years; 6 strategic priorities: nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, NCDs, substance misuse, injuries, mental health.
• Adolescent-friendly health clinics (AFHCs) at facility level.
• Peer educators (Saathiyas) at community level.

Universal Health Coverage — Ayushman Bharat

Launched 2018 with two pillars:

Pillar 1 — PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana)

• 5 lakh INR per family per year cashless secondary and tertiary hospitalisation.
• Beneficiaries: 12 crore poorest families (~55 crore individuals) identified from SECC-2011 deprivation criteria.
• Empanelled hospitals (public and private); pre-defined package rates.
• E-card-based access; no enrolment required for eligible families.

Pillar 2 — Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)

• 1.5 lakh sub-centres and PHCs upgraded into HWCs.
• Comprehensive primary health care — RMNCH+A, NCD screening (diabetes, hypertension, oral/breast/cervical cancer), mental health, eye care.
• Staffed by Community Health Officer (CHO — usually a B.Sc. nurse or AYUSH practitioner) along with ANM and ASHA.

Nutrition — POSHAN Abhiyaan

• POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission, 2018) — targets to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia (in children, women, adolescents), and low birth weight.
• Annual reduction targets: stunting 2%, anaemia 3%, undernutrition 2%, LBW 2%.
• Convergent platform — ICDS, NHM, Swachh Bharat, Drinking Water all linked.
• Anganwadi services under ICDS provide supplementary nutrition, immunisation, health checkups, and pre-school education for 0–6 years.

Healthcare workforce in rural India

IPHS (Indian Public Health Standards) — facility hierarchy

High-yield NEET PG MCQ traps

1. RNTCP is now NTEP — examiners still test under the old name; recognise both.
2. JSY cash amounts — 1,400 rural, 1,000 urban in low-performing states; lower in high-performing.
3. PMSMA day — 9th of every month, free specialist ANC.
4. Ayushman Bharat coverage — 5 lakh per family per year, not per individual.
5. HWC staffing — Community Health Officer (CHO) leads, not a medical officer.
6. Mission Indradhanush covers 12 VPDs — DPT, OPV, IPV, BCG, HepB, Hib (penta), rotavirus, PCV, MR, JE, TT, DT.
7. NACP is in Phase V — targets 95-95-95.
8. SECC criteria for PM-JAY — automatic inclusion (destitute, manual scavengers, beggars, primitive tribes).
9. Nikshay portal — TB notification is mandatory and punishable if missed.
10. POSHAN Abhiyaan annual target reduction — stunting 2%, anaemia 3%.

Recent updates

• PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM, 2021) — 6-year, 64,000 crore investment in surveillance, public-health labs, and BSL-3 capacity.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM, 2021) — health ID (ABHA), unified registry, EHR.
• PM-JAY senior citizen expansion (2024) — all 70+ Indians eligible regardless of income.
• MTP (Amendment) Act 2021 — gestational limit raised to 24 weeks for special categories; Medical Board for foetal abnormalities >24 weeks.
• Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) 2021 — covered in NTCP (National Tobacco Control Programme).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between RNTCP and NTEP?

RNTCP (Revised National TB Control Programme) was renamed NTEP (National TB Elimination Programme) in 2020 with the goal of eliminating TB in India by 2025, five years ahead of the global SDG target of 2030. NTEP added daily fixed-dose combinations, Nikshay portal notifications, Nikshay Poshan Yojana cash incentives, and active case finding.

What does Ayushman Bharat include?

Ayushman Bharat has two pillars. PM-JAY (Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) provides 5 lakh per family per year cashless secondary and tertiary hospital care to 12 crore poor families. The second pillar is 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) delivering comprehensive primary care including NCD screening.

What is the difference between JSY and JSSK?

JSY (Janani Suraksha Yojana, 2005) provides cash incentive to mothers for institutional delivery — 1,400 rural and 1,000 urban in low-performing states. JSSK (Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, 2011) eliminates all out-of-pocket expenses for delivery and sick neonate care including drugs, diet, transport, and diagnostics for 1 year.

What is the schedule for Mission Indradhanush?

Mission Indradhanush targets full immunisation of children under 2 years and pregnant women in low-coverage districts. Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 (2023) added measles-rubella elimination focus and covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. Coverage target is 90% full immunisation.

Who appoints ASHA workers and what are their key roles?

ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists) are selected by the Gram Sabha — one per 1,000 rural population. Roles include promoting institutional delivery, ANC, immunisation, DOTS, family planning, and acting as the first community link with the public health system. They receive performance-based incentives, not a fixed salary.

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Written by: NEETPGAI Editorial Team Reviewed by: Pending SME Review Last reviewed: April 2026