According to the National Family Health Survey- 3, private medical sector is the primary source of health care in India for:

The correct option is C (70% of households in urban areas). NFHS-3 (2005-06), conducted by IIPS Mumbai under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, reported that private medical providers were the first point of care for roughly seven in ten urban households, and the share was higher in rural areas. The survey's figure is the one the question tests, so memorise the urban number separately from the rural one.

Why the others fail:

• A (50%) and B (60%) understate the private sector's urban dominance that NFHS-3 recorded.
• D (80%) is the figure aspirants often confuse with the rural or overall estimate, so it is a trap if you are recalling from memory.

The core concept is the mixed structure of Indian healthcare, where private providers carry most outpatient care while the public system has thin coverage in urban slums and rural areas. For Mains GS-II, this links to the debate on the public-private mix, out-of-pocket expenditure, and schemes such as Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. Later rounds (NFHS-4 and NFHS-5) have updated these figures, so verify the current numbers before quoting them in answers.

Trap: candidates pick 80% because private dominance feels overwhelming, or mix up the urban and rural percentages from NFHS-3.