Govt Approves 11,682 MBBS Seats, 43 New Medical Colleges for 2025-26 as the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shared updated data in the Rajya Sabha. The figures include medical seats across government institutions, medical colleges, and Institutes of National Importance. The information was provided by Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel in a written reply in the Upper House of Parliament. The data was compiled by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
MBBS and PG Medical Seats Approved for 2025–26
The Union government has expanded medical education capacity by approving additional undergraduate and postgraduate seats across institutions. For the 2025–26 academic session, the government has approved:
- 11,682 MBBS seats
- 8,967 postgraduate (PG) medical seats
These seats will be available in medical colleges, AIIMS institutions, and other Institutes of National Importance (INIs). The move is aimed at increasing the availability of medical education opportunities and strengthening the healthcare workforce in the country.
43 New Medical Colleges Established Across India
The Health Ministry also informed Parliament that 43 new medical colleges have been established across India as part of the government’s expansion plans. The addition of these institutions is expected to increase the number of seats available for medical students and improve access to medical education in different states. The expansion aligns with the government’s policy to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and increase the number of trained doctors.
Medical Education Capacity in India Over the Past Decade
According to the data shared in the Rajya Sabha, India has witnessed a significant rise in the number of medical colleges and seats during the last ten years. The growth in medical education capacity is reflected in the following figures:
|
Category |
2014 |
Current |
|
Number of medical colleges |
387 |
818 |
|
MBBS seats |
51,348 |
1,28,976 |
|
PG medical seats |
31,185 |
85,020 |
The increase in the number of colleges and seats has been attributed to policy initiatives aimed at strengthening medical education and expanding healthcare services.
Impact on Medical Admissions in India
The expansion of medical colleges and seats is expected to benefit students appearing for national-level entrance examinations such as NEET UG and NEET PG. With more institutions and seats being added, candidates will have greater opportunities for admission to MBBS and postgraduate medical programmes across the country. The Health Ministry stated that the continued expansion of medical education infrastructure is part of a long-term strategy to address the growing demand for healthcare professionals in India.