The National Rural Health Mission was launched in 2005 to provide quality healthcare services to rural populations. It aims to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates and make healthcare accessible to all. Key objectives include establishing a trained village health worker in each community, strengthening primary health centers, implementing public health standards, and taking an integrated approach through district-level health planning that converges issues like sanitation, nutrition and water with health services. The vision is for effective and equitable rural healthcare through community involvement and increasing public spending on health.