Union Coal and Mines Minister and BJP Telangana president G. Kishan Reddy on Friday, 25 July 2026, called on eligible candidates to apply online for new Jan Aushadhi Kendras under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, directing applicants to the UMANG app and portal.

Context

In a post in Telugu, Reddy stated that the Modi government had established Jan Aushadhi Kendras with the goal of providing quality medicines to ordinary citizens at very low prices. He announced that applications are being invited for setting up new Jan Aushadhi Kendras under the Janaushadhi Pariyojana, adding: 'కొత్తగా జన్ ఔషధి కేంద్రాన్ని ప్రారంభించాలనుకునే ఆసక్తి గల అభ్యర్థులు' ('Interested candidates who wish to open a new Jan Aushadhi Kendra') can apply online through the UMANG app.

Applicants can access the scheme at umang.gov.in or download the UMANG app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Policy Backdrop

The Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was relaunched in 2015 under the Department of Pharmaceuticals with the aim of making quality generic medicines available at prices 50 to 90 per cent lower than branded equivalents. The scheme has since expanded to thousands of outlets across the country, with a particular focus on underserved districts and lower-income households.

The integration of scheme applications with the UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) platform reflects the central government's broader push since the mid-2010s to decentralise welfare delivery and enable private participation through a single digital portal.

Stakeholders and Impact

The scheme targets two distinct groups: common citizens who benefit from reduced out-of-pocket medicine expenditure, and pharmacy entrepreneurs—including individuals, NGOs, and self-help groups—who can establish and run a Kendra. The UMANG-based application process is intended to lower the administrative barrier for prospective operators, particularly in smaller towns and rural areas.

Affordable generic medicines directly reduce household health expenditure, a persistent concern for middle- and lower-income families across India. Expanding the network of Kendras is therefore positioned as both a healthcare access measure and a livelihood opportunity.

What's Next

Progress on new centre approvals under this application round, and any revised targets for establishing additional Jan Aushadhi Kendras in underserved districts, will be key indicators of the scheme's momentum. Kishan Reddy's public outreach in Telugu signals a targeted effort to boost participation from Telangana and the broader southern region, where the BJP has been working to strengthen its welfare delivery narrative ahead of future electoral cycles.