New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 10,650 new MBBS seats for the 2024-25 academic session, part of the government’s commitment to creating 75,000 new medical seats over five years, as announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day 2024. This addition across 41 newly approved medical colleges increases the total number of medical institutions in India to 816 and raises the total MBBS seats to over 1,37,600, including those in Institutes of National Importance (INI).

For postgraduate courses, the NMC anticipates adding around 5,000 new seats, bringing the national total to approximately 67,000 PG medical seats. Combined, the increase in undergraduate and postgraduate seats this year is about 15,000 new medical seats.

The approvals came following the evaluation of 170 applications from government and private institutions, with adherence to improved governance practices, as all appeals against Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) decisions were resolved without court intervention for the first time.

The NMC plans to integrate clinical research into the mainstream medical curriculum, collaborating with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to boost research infrastructure and promote clinical research training. This aligns with national efforts to enhance the quality of medical education and strengthen clinical skills.

This expansion works in tandem with government schemes like the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) and the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), which focus on upgrading existing colleges and establishing new medical institutions, particularly in underserved regions, to ensure more equitable healthcare access.

India’s rise in medical education capacity is also supported by advancements in digital health and telemedicine, improving healthcare delivery efficiency across rural and tribal areas.

The total medical education landscape now includes around 55,688 government medical college MBBS seats from about 434 colleges and roughly 53,256 seats in private medical colleges, along with approximately 2,044 seats across AIIMS institutions nationwide. This surge in seats aims to meet the growing demand for qualified doctors and specialists and positions India as a leading global provider of medical education.

The NMC is set to release a detailed blueprint on accreditation, examination schedules, and seat matrix approvals soon, with the application portal for the 2025-26 academic year to open in early November, supporting a streamlined admission process for aspiring medical students.

With inputs from PTI