---
title: "National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) — Definition & Meaning"
description: "The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched in 2005 to enhance rural healthcare in India and is crucial for UPSC exam candidates."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/national-rural-health-mission"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- The National Rural Health Mission is an Indian government health programme launched in 2005 to strengthen rural public healthcare delivery, later subsumed under the National Health Mission in 2013.
- What is the difference between NRHM and the National Health Mission (NHM)?
- Who are ASHA workers and what is their employment status?
- What are the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) under NRHM?
- How did NRHM finance its operations and why was this controversial?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

The National Rural Health Mission is an Indian government health programme launched in 2005 to strengthen rural public healthcare delivery, later subsumed under the National Health Mission in 2013.

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India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Rural Health Mission on 12 April 2005, deploying over 850,000 ASHA workers across 18 high-focus states by 2012.

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