In a major step toward strengthening healthcare capacity, the Union Cabinet has approved the creation of 10,023 new medical seats in government medical colleges and hospitals. This expansion includes 5,023 undergraduate (MBBS) seats and 5,000 postgraduate (PG) seats, as part of Phase III of a centrally sponsored scheme.
The initiative comes with an investment of ₹15,034 crore, with the central government contributing the majority share and state governments providing the rest. The rollout of these additional seats is planned to be completed by 2028-29.
Over the past decade, India has witnessed significant growth in medical education, with the number of medical colleges nearly doubling and substantial increases in both MBBS and PG seats.
To support this expansion, new regulatory reforms now allow experienced government specialists to join as faculty members without mandatory senior residency, provided they meet training requirements. Hospitals with sufficient infrastructure may also be designated as teaching institutions, even if they are not formally linked to a medical college.
This move is expected to play a crucial role in improving doctor availability in underserved regions, reducing the urban-rural health gap, and meeting the growing demand for medical professionals across the country.
