43 Medical Colleges Approved, 11,682 New MBBS Seats Added for 2025–26: Health Ministry

India's ability to produce medical graduates has grown dramatically over the last 10 years, as per the ministry's figures shared in Rajya Sabha. There were 387 medical colleges in the country in 2014 and the number has more than doubled to 818 now.

As per information provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 11 682 MBBS seats and 8,967 postgraduates (PG) seats have been approved by the central government for the academic session 202526. Besides this, 43 additional medical colleges have been fortified nation-wide.

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel said the figures were forwarded to her by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The numbers represent seats both in medical colleges and in institutions such as AIIMS and other Institutes of National Importance (INIs).

Based on the data of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare placed in Rajya Sabha, medical education in India has witnessed a major leap in capacity in the last decade. Total medical colleges in the country have touched 818 from 387 in 2014. While during this time period, UG (MBBS) seats have increased from 51,348 to 1 28 976, PG seats have also shot up from 31,185 to 85,020.

The ministry said the NMC processes applications from medical colleges every year for setting up new institutions and increasing undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) seats. Applications are submitted online and evaluated within the same academic year for which they are filed.

Assessments are carried out by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) under the NMC. The board determines the mode of inspection before granting approval. This may include verification of digital documents, Aadhaar-based attendance records, hospital management information system (HMIS) data, photographs, video feeds, or surprise physical inspections and video conferencing.

Based on the assessment, the commission issues either a Letter of Permission (LoP) or a Letter of Disapproval (LoD) in accordance with regulations governing the establishment of medical institutions and minimum standards for UG and PG courses.

The ministry also highlighted the centrally sponsored scheme for establishing new medical colleges attached to existing district or referral hospitals, aimed particularly at underserved regions and aspirational districts. Under the scheme, 157 medical colleges have been approved in three phases with a total cost of Rs 41,332.41 crore.

Of this, the Centre’s share is Rs 26,715.84 crore, out of which Rs 23,246.10 crore has already been released, the ministry told the Rajya Sabha. The funding pattern is 90:10 between the Centre and states for northeastern and special category states, and 60:40 for other states.

The ministry added that it regularly engages with the NMC to ensure timely processing of applications and appeals related to medical seats, and that approved seat matrices are made available before the commencement of counselling.