In a significant step towards boosting India’s healthcare capacity, the Union Cabinet has cleared a major expansion plan for medical education. The move, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will add more than 10,000 undergraduate and postgraduate seats across government medical institutions in the coming years.
Under Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), 5,000 new postgraduate seats will be created in state and central government colleges, standalone PG institutes, and hospitals. Parallelly, another 5,023 MBBS seats will be added through the CSS for upgrading existing government medical colleges. The government has also increased the financial ceiling to ₹1.50 crore per MBBS seat, according to an official statement.
Key Objectives of the Initiative
- Expand availability of specialist doctors and introduce new medical disciplines.
- Strengthen public healthcare infrastructure and improve access in underserved areas.
- Provide more opportunities for students to pursue MBBS and PG courses in India.
- Elevate the quality of medical training to global standards.
- Generate employment for doctors, faculty, paramedics, researchers, and administrators.
- Promote balanced distribution of medical facilities across states and union territories.
- Build long-term resilience in the healthcare system while aiding socio-economic growth.
Implementation and Targets
The schemes are expected to deliver 5,000 PG and 5,023 MBBS seats by 2028-29. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) will soon issue detailed implementation guidelines.
Currently, India has 808 medical colleges—the highest number in the world—with an annual MBBS intake of 1,23,700 students. Over the past decade, MBBS capacity has grown by 127% with 69,352 new seats, while PG courses saw a 143% rise with 43,041 seats added. Despite this progress, disparities in access remain across regions, particularly in rural and remote areas.
The establishment of 22 new AIIMS under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana has further enhanced tertiary care and advanced medical training. To ensure a steady pipeline of qualified faculty, the government has also notified the New Medical Institution (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations 2025, emphasizing a competency-based and inclusive approach.
With these reforms, the government aims not only to bridge gaps in medical education and healthcare but also to position India as a hub for affordable and high-quality healthcare services.
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