Imagin: “An India with free healthcare and education”
In a nation as vast and diverse as India, access to quality healthcare and education remains a dream for millions. As of late 2025, public spending on health is around 2% of GDP, below the National Health Policy target of 2.5%, while total health expenditure stands at about 3.8%. Education spending hovers around 4.6% of GDP, short of the 6% recommended by the National Education Policy 2020. Out-of-pocket expenses continue to burden families, and infrastructure gaps persist. But what if India achieved truly free, universal healthcare and education—accessible to every citizen without financial barriers? This visionary scenario could redefine the country’s future, fostering a healthier, more skilled population poised for global leadership.
The Current Landscape: Progress Amid Challenges
India has made significant strides toward inclusivity. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY), the world’s largest health assurance scheme, targets over 12 crore vulnerable families (approximately 55 crore beneficiaries) with up to ₹5 lakh per family annually for hospitalization. As of 2025, over 36.9 crore Ayushman cards have been created, with savings from reduced out-of-pocket expenditure exceeding ₹1.25 lakh crore. Health and Wellness Centres provide primary care, and expansions include coverage for seniors aged 70+.
Education is advancing under NEP 2020, with multilingual approaches, skill-based curricula, and digital platforms. Yet challenges remain: rural-urban divides, teacher shortages, and quality gaps. India’s Human Development Index ranking at 130th (for 2023 data, released in 2025) reflects progress in life expectancy and schooling, but inequalities persist.
A Transformed India: The Vision of Universality
Imagine an India where healthcare is a fundamental right. Every citizen—from remote villages to urban centers—receives comprehensive care: preventive services, maternal and child health, surgeries, and chronic disease management, all free at public or empanelled facilities. No family faces ruinous medical debt; no child skips school due to illness.
Education, free from preschool to postgraduate levels, focuses on holistic growth. Public institutions match private standards with modern infrastructure, qualified teachers, and industry-aligned vocational training. Higher education is merit-driven and inclusive, nurturing innovators and skilled professionals.
In this India, a rural student learns advanced skills alongside core subjects in a well-equipped school. A farmer accesses free diagnostics nearby. Life expectancy exceeds 80 years, literacy approaches 100%, and productivity surges.
The Profound Impacts: Healthier Lives, Stronger Economy
Universal free healthcare would slash poverty by eliminating medical bills, allowing savings for nutrition and education. Preventive measures would control diseases, increasing workforce participation—particularly for women—and reducing lost workdays.
Free education would unlock human capital. Graduates fuel advancements in AI, renewables, and manufacturing. Bridging gender, caste, and regional gaps promotes harmony. India’s youthful demographic becomes a superpower, accelerating GDP growth and supporting ambitions for developed nation status by 2047.
Pathways to Reality: Lessons from Global Models
Nations like Sweden, Canada, and Germany demonstrate success with tax-funded universal systems, achieving high life expectancies and equity despite challenges like wait times, addressed through efficiency.
For India, expanding AB PM-JAY toward full universality, fully implementing NEP 2020, and boosting spending—to 4-6% of GDP on health and 6% on education via progressive taxation—would be pivotal. Public-private partnerships, digital records, telemedicine, and teacher development could ensure quality and reach.
A Call to Dream Big
An India with free healthcare and education is not utopian—it’s attainable with commitment. It would empower citizens with robust health, profound knowledge, and endless opportunities. As we pursue Viksit Bharat, investing in these foundations could propel unprecedented advancement, affirming that a nation’s true strength lies in its people’s well-being and potential.
