New Delhi, June 8 -- West Bengal became the last state to join the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the government's flagship health insurance programme, signing a memorandum of understanding with the National Health Authority on Monday to extend cashless medical cover of up to Rs.5 lakh annually to 1.43 crore families, or 6 crore individuals.

The Mamata Banerjee-era holdout formally ended as the state aligned with the programme, completing the scheme's rollout across all 36 states and Union territories. The MoU was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Union health minister J.P. Nadda and West Bengal chief minister Adhikari.

The beneficiaries in West Bengal comprise 1.24 crore low-income families, nearly 16 lakh house...