SchemesTuesday, 24 March 2026·https://testbook.com/current-affairs/24-march-2026-daily-current-affairs
NHM tribal healthcare norms relaxed: SHC, PHC, CHC and MMU thresholds revised
The Health Ministry has relaxed NHM norms for tribal and remote areas, lowering population thresholds and expanding MMUs and AAMs.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In February 2026, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare relaxed National Health Mission norms for tribal, hilly and remote areas by reducing population thresholds for SHCs, PHCs and CHCs and expanding Mobile Medical Units and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Key specifics
- Sub-Health Centres (SHCs) now require a population of 3,000 in difficult areas, down from 5,000 in plains.
- Primary Health Centres (PHCs) now require 20,000 people, down from 30,000 in plains.
- Community Health Centres (CHCs) now require 80,000 people, down from 1,20,000 in plains.
- Up to 4 MMUs per district are allowed in tribal/hard-to-reach areas; under PM-JANMAN, up to 10 MMUs per district are allowed in PVTG areas.
- As of February 2026, 1,453 MMUs were operational and 44.08 crore teleconsultations had been conducted across AAMs by 28 February 2026.
Exam lens
Health scheme + tribal welfare, February 2026, SHC 3,000, PHC 20,000, CHC 80,000, 1,453 MMUs, 44.08 crore teleconsultations — TNPSC may ask the revised norms and programme names.