The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a major expansion in medical education by increasing 5,000 postgraduate (PG) seats and 5,023 MBBS seats across government medical institutions. The decision comes under Phase III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for strengthening and upgrading existing state and central government medical colleges and PG institutes. According to the release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the initiative aims to enhance undergraduate capacity, expand postgraduate training, and introduce new specialities to improve the availability of doctors and specialists across India.
Financial Outlay for Expansion of Medical Seats
The total financial implication of the schemes is INR 15,034.50 crore for the period 2025-26 to 2028-29, distributed as follows:
- Central Share: INR 10,303.20 crore
- State Share: INR 4,731.30 crore
This investment is targeted at augmenting medical seats in government medical colleges across states and Union Territories, particularly to improve healthcare access in underserved regions.
Target for Medical Education Expansion
The scheme has set a target of increasing 5,000 PG seats and 5,023 MBBS seats in government institutions by 2028-29. Detailed guidelines for the implementation will be released by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW).
Current Status of Medical Education in India
As of now, India has 808 medical colleges, the highest in the world, with a total intake of 1,23,700 MBBS seats. The past decade has witnessed significant growth in medical education capacity:
- 69,352 new MBBS seats added (127% growth)
- 43,041 PG seats added (143% growth)
This expansion initiative is expected to further strengthen India’s healthcare system by producing more qualified doctors and specialists, ultimately enhancing medical services across the country.
