The central government has sanctioned 11,682 MBBS openings and 8,967 postgraduate (PG) openings for the academic year 2025-26, alongside the establishment of 43 new medical colleges nationwide, as stated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to the Rajya Sabha.
In a written statement to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel highlighted that the data was provided by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The numbers includes seats in medical colleges as well as institutes like AIIMS and other Institutions of National Significance (INIs).
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111% increase in number of medical colleges
As per the data presented by the ministry in the Rajya Sabha, India's medical education capacity has seen substantial growth in the last decade. The number of medical colleges surged from 387 in 2014 to 818 currently. During this timeframe, UG (MBBS) seats increased from 51,348 to 1,28,976, while PG seats grew from 31,185 to 85,020.
The ministry indicated that NMC reviews applications from medical colleges annually for establishing new institutions and augmenting undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) seats. Applications are submitted online and assessed within the same academic year they are filed.
New medical college approvals
The NMC's Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) conducts evaluations. Before approving, the board does a thorough inspection. Digital document verification, Aadhaar-based attendance records, photos, video feeds, hospital management information system (HMIS) data, surprise physical inspections, and video conferences are a few examples of this.
Following the evaluation, the commission issues either a Letter of Permission (LoP) or a Letter of Disapproval (LoD) in line with the rules regulating the formation of medical institutions and baseline standards for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
157 new medical colleges
The ministry also emphasised the centrally supported initiative for establishing new medical colleges affiliated with existing district or referral hospitals, particularly focusing on underserved areas and aspirational districts.
Under this initiative, 157 medical colleges have been sanctioned in three phases, totaling an expenditure of Rs 41,332.41 crore. Out of this, the Centre's contribution amounts to Rs 26,715.84 crore, of which Rs 23,246.10 crore has already been disbursed, the ministry informed the Rajya Sabha.
The distribution of funds is set at 90:10 between the Centre and states for northeastern and special category states, and 60:40 for other states.
The ministry further stated that it continually collaborates with the NMC to ensure prompt handling of applications and appeals related to medical placements, and that authorized seat matrices are published before the onset of counselling.
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