Arrange the following population health policies in India in chronological order (from old to recent).

(A) National Health Policy
(B) National Policy for Rare Diseases
(C) National Youth Policy
(D) National Policy for Persons with Disabilities
(E) National Mental Health Policy

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is A

Introduction
India’s population health policies have evolved over decades to address changing public health needs. The correct chronological order of the listed policies is C → D → E → A → B, moving from older youth-focused policies to more recent health frameworks addressing rare diseases.

Information Booster

• National Youth Policy – This policy is among the earliest frameworks, first introduced in 1986 and later updated in 2003 and 2014. Its focus was on creating an enabling environment for the country’s youth and guiding their participation in national development. Because of its early introduction, it stands at the beginning of the timeline.
• National Policy for Persons with Disabilities – Introduced in 2006, this policy emphasised equal opportunities, protection of rights, and ensuring full participation for persons with disabilities. It marked a major step toward inclusive social development.
• National Mental Health Policy – Released in 2014, this progressive policy aimed to address issues such as mental healthcare access, stigma reduction, and rights-based treatment, making it a vital framework in India’s mental-health ecosystem.
• National Health Policy – The modern version of this policy came in 2017, providing comprehensive guidance on India's healthcare priorities, disease prevention, digital health, and universal health coverage. Although earlier versions existed, the 2017 policy is the recognized benchmark in contemporary chronology.
• National Policy for Rare Diseases – Introduced in 2021, this is the most recent framework in the list, aimed at addressing diagnosis, treatment challenges, and financial support for individuals affected by rare diseases.

Additional Knowledge

• National Youth Policy – Despite being updated many times, its first formulation in 1986 ensures it precedes all other listed policies.
• National Policy for Persons with Disabilities – This policy helped lay the foundation for later acts such as the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, highlighting its role in India’s inclusive policy evolution.
• National Mental Health Policy – This policy strengthened India’s commitments under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, pushing for rights-based mental healthcare.
• National Health Policy – The 2017 version introduced Ayushman Bharat, digital health concepts, and population-level preventive healthcare strategies.
• National Policy for Rare Diseases – Due to the complexity and cost of rare disease treatment, this policy introduced financial assistance mechanisms and categorized rare diseases into groups for better management.