✓ 2-Minute Self Assessment · 2026

Are You Eligible for the Ayushman Card?

Find out in 2 minutes if you qualify for ₹5 lakh free healthcare. Complete eligibility criteria for SECC 2011, urban workers, and 70+ senior citizens — all explained.

Check Eligibility Online ↗ Quick Self-Check

✓ 55+ Crore eligible Indians

✓ 3 eligibility paths

✓ Aadhaar-based verification

⚡

Quick Self-Check — 30 Seconds

If you answer YES to any one of these, you are likely eligible.

1. Is anyone in your family 70 years or older?

→ Automatic eligibility under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card scheme. No income check needed.

2. Was your family listed in the SECC 2011 census under deprivation criteria?

→ Rural households meeting one of 6 deprivation indicators (D1–D7) are eligible.

3. Does the head of your urban household work in low-income occupations?

→ 11 categories including rag pickers, domestic workers, construction workers, sweepers, etc.

💡 Tip: The most accurate way to confirm eligibility is to search the official PMJAY portal using your Aadhaar number — covered in detail below.

Before you can download your Ayushman Card or avail ₹5 lakh in cashless treatment, you must be officially eligible under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Unlike most insurance schemes, you don’t “apply” for PMJAY — eligibility is pre-determined based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data, or the new 70+ senior citizen category.

This guide explains every PMJAY eligibility criterion in 2026, including the six rural deprivation indicators, the eleven urban occupational categories, RSBY beneficiary inclusion, and the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card expansion for all citizens aged 70 and above. You will also learn how to check your eligibility online in under 2 minutes — by mobile number, Aadhaar, or ration card.

Key Fact: As of 2026, over 55 crore Indians are eligible under AB-PMJAY across rural and urban categories — making it the world’s largest government-funded health insurance scheme.

Three Paths to Eligibility

You Qualify If Any One of These Applies

The Ayushman Card is not application-based — you are either pre-identified or qualify under the 70+ scheme.

Path 1 · Rural

SECC 2011 Rural Families

Rural households automatically eligible under any of 6 deprivation criteria (D1–D7) from the 2011 census.

Includes:

Kuccha houses · SC/ST families · No adult earner · Female-headed · Disabled member · Manual labour

Path 2 · Urban

SECC 2011 Urban Households

Urban families eligible if the household head works in any of 11 occupational categories.

Includes:

Rag pickers · Domestic workers · Street vendors · Construction labour · Sanitation workers · Drivers

Path 3 · Senior 70+

Vay Vandana — Universal for 70+

Launched 2024: Every Indian 70+ qualifies regardless of income, occupation, or SECC status.

Needs:

Only Aadhaar Card · No income proof · No SECC check · Available alongside private insurance

SECC 2011 Rural — The Six Deprivation Criteria

Rural families are eligible if they meet any one of these deprivation indicators.

Code	Deprivation Criterion
D1	Households with only one room with kuccha walls and kuccha roof
D2	Households with no adult member aged 16 to 59 years
D3	Female-headed households with no adult male member aged 16 to 59 years
D4	Households with at least one disabled member and no able-bodied adult member
D5	SC/ST households
D7	Landless households deriving major part of income from manual casual labour

Automatic Inclusion (No D-Code Needed)

Rural families are automatically included if they fall into: households without shelter, destitute/living on alms, manual scavenger families, primitive tribal groups, or legally released bonded labourers.

SECC 2011 Urban — The Eleven Occupational Categories

Urban families are eligible if the head of household works in any one of these occupations.

Rag picker

Beggar

Domestic worker (househelp)

Street vendor, cobbler, hawker

Construction worker, mason, plumber, security guard, coolie

Sweeper, sanitation worker, mali

Home-based worker, artisan, tailor

Transport worker — driver, conductor, rickshaw puller

Shop worker, peon, helper, delivery assistant, waiter

Electrician, mechanic, assembler, repair worker

Washerman (dhobi), chowkidar (watchman)

👴

New Since 2024

Ayushman Vay Vandana — Universal 70+ Coverage

Launched in October 2024, the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card extends PMJAY benefits to every Indian senior citizen aged 70 and above — regardless of income, occupation, family status, or SECC inclusion.

Who Qualifies

✓ Any Indian citizen aged 70 years or older
✓ Aadhaar Card is the only document required
✓ Available alongside private health insurance
✓ Adds ₹5 lakh top-up if family already has PMJAY card

This expansion brought an estimated 6 crore additional Indians under PMJAY coverage. Read our complete Ayushman Vay Vandana Card Guide for 70+.

⚠

Who Is NOT Eligible for the Ayushman Card

SECC-based eligibility excludes households meeting any of these criteria.

✗ Households owning motorised vehicles or fishing boats

✗ Households with Kisan Credit Card ≥ ₹50,000 limit

✗ Any member is a government employee

✗ Members earning more than ₹10,000/month

✗ Income tax or professional tax payers

✗ 3+ room pucca houses with brick/concrete

✗ Households owning refrigerator or landline

✗ 2.5+ acres irrigated land with equipment

✗ 5+ acres irrigated for 2+ crop seasons

✗ 7.5+ acres land with irrigation equipment

Important exception: Even if your family meets these exclusion criteria, any member aged 70+ still qualifies under the Vay Vandana 70+ scheme with no income test.

How to Check Ayushman Card Eligibility Online? Step-by-Step

The fastest way to verify your eligibility is through the official PMJAY Beneficiary Portal or the Ayushman app. The check takes under 2 minutes.

Step 1: Visit the Official Portal

Open your browser and go to beneficiary.nha.gov.in or open the Ayushman app.

Step 2: Click the Beneficiary Login Option

On the homepage, click the “Beneficiary” tab. Enter your mobile number + captcha code and click “Verify”.

Step 3: Enter the OTP

An OTP will be sent to your mobile number. Enter the 6-digit code and click “Login”.

Step 4: Set the Search Filters

In the dashboard, select:

Scheme: PMJAY (or PMJAY-Vay Vandana for 70+ check)
State: Your state
Sub-Scheme: PMJAY
District: Your district
Search By: Choose your preferred method — Aadhaar, Family ID, Ration Card, Name, or Location

Step 5: Enter Search Details

Enter the value based on your chosen search method and click “Search”.

Step 6: View Your Eligibility Result

The portal will display one of three results:

Family found with member names → You are eligible. Proceed to download your Ayushman Card
Family found, but eKYC pending → You are eligible, but must complete eKYC before downloading
No record found → You are not currently in the SECC 2011 PMJAY database. See “What If I’m Not Eligible” below

Multiple Search Options

4 Ways to Verify Your Eligibility

🆔

By Aadhaar Number

Most accurate. Uniquely identifies each beneficiary. Set Search By → Aadhaar.

📱

By Mobile Number

If your number is registered with NHA. Useful when Aadhaar isn’t on hand.

📋

By Ration Card

Especially useful for rural families where Aadhaar linkage may be incomplete.

🏪

Offline at CSC

No internet or smartphone? Operators have deeper portal access at 5 lakh+ CSCs.

What to Do If You Are Eligible

Congratulations — you are covered for up to ₹5 lakh in free healthcare. Your next steps:

Complete eKYC if not already done — full guide at Ayushman Card eKYC
Download your Ayushman Card PDF — see our Ayushman Card Download tutorial
Find empanelled hospitals near you — state-wise list at Hospital List Guide
Save the helpline number 14555 in your contacts for emergencies

Alternative Pathways

What If You Are NOT Eligible?

5 alternative pathways if the eligibility check shows your family is not in the database.

Check Under Vay Vandana (70+)

Any family member aged 70 or above qualifies separately, regardless of SECC status. Switch scheme to PMJAY-Vay Vandana in the search filter.

Verify with All Search Methods

A family may be in the database but not linked to your chosen method. Try Aadhaar → Ration Card → Family ID → Name + Location.

Visit Your Local CSC

CSC operators have access to deeper portal records. They can search using slightly different name spellings, old addresses, or other states.

Check State-Specific Schemes

Many states have complementary schemes: Maharashtra MJPJAY · Rajasthan Chiranjeevi · Tamil Nadu CMCHIS · West Bengal Swasthya Sathi · Karnataka Vajpayee Arogyashree · Odisha BSKY.

Contact the Helpline

Call 14555 (toll-free) to verify your status with NHA support staff who can search beyond what the public portal shows.

Eligibility Question? Call the Helpline

📞 14555

Toll-free · 11+ Indian languages · Monday to Saturday

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am eligible for the Ayushman Card?+

You can check your eligibility in 2 minutes at beneficiary.nha.gov.in. Login with your mobile and OTP, then search using your Aadhaar number, ration card, or family ID. If your family is in the SECC 2011 database or you are aged 70+, you are eligible. The check is free and immediate.

Is Ayushman Card eligibility based on income?+

Not directly. Eligibility is based on the SECC 2011 data, which used deprivation indicators (rural) and occupational categories (urban) — not a direct income test. However, the indicators effectively identify economically vulnerable families. Senior citizens aged 70+ are eligible under Vay Vandana Card regardless of income.

Can I apply if my family is not in the SECC 2011 list?+

For SECC-based eligibility, the list is fixed — you cannot self-add. However, if any family member is 70 or older, that senior qualifies independently under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Card. Many states also have complementary state schemes you may qualify for.

Are government employees eligible for the Ayushman Card?+

No — households with any government employee are explicitly excluded under SECC criteria. However, if any family member is aged 70+, that senior individually qualifies under the Vay Vandana Card regardless of other family members’ employment status.

Are income tax payers eligible?+

Income tax payers are excluded under SECC 2011 criteria. The only exception is the 70+ senior citizen category under Vay Vandana, which has no income or tax-status restriction — even high-income seniors qualify.

What is the age limit for Ayushman Card eligibility?+

There is no age restriction for SECC-based eligibility — children, adults, and seniors are all covered. Under the new Vay Vandana expansion (October 2024), all citizens aged 70 and above are universally eligible regardless of any other criteria.

Can I check eligibility for my elderly parent separately?+

Yes. If your parent is 70 or above, switch the scheme to PMJAY-Vay Vandana on the portal and search using their Aadhaar number. They qualify independently under the senior citizen expansion — even if your family is not in the SECC 2011 list.

How long does it take to confirm eligibility?+

Eligibility is instantly visible when you search the portal. There is no waiting period for the eligibility check itself. However, if your eKYC is pending, you may need to wait 15 minutes to 24 hours after eKYC submission before the card becomes downloadable.

Continue Your Journey

→ Apply Online

Complete registration steps

→ eKYC Process

Aadhaar OTP verification

→ Download Card

PDF download tutorial

→ 70+ Senior Card

Ayushman Vay Vandana

Last Updated: May 2026 · SECC 2011 + Vay Vandana 2024 criteria · Verified from pmjay.gov.in
Official sources: pmjay.gov.in · beneficiary.nha.gov.in · Helpline: 14555