New Delhi, Sept 2025 — In a major move to strengthen India’s medical education and boost healthcare access, the Union Cabinet has approved Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme to add over 10,000 MBBS and PG medical seats by 2028-29.
Under this initiative, 5,023 new MBBS seats and 5,000 postgraduate (PG) seats will be created in government medical colleges and institutions across the country. The total allocation for the scheme is ₹15,034.50 crore (central share: ₹10,303.20 crore; states: ₹4,731.30 crore).
The scheme aims to leverage existing infrastructure, promote more equitable regional distribution of medical education, and strengthen tertiary care in under-served areas.
India currently boasts 808 medical colleges and an intake capacity of 123,700 MBBS seats, the highest in the world. In the past decade, the country added 69,352 MBBS seats (127% growth) and 43,041 PG seats (143% growth).
To support this expansion, new Medical Institution (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations 2025 have been introduced to enable more inclusive, competency-based recruitment of teaching staff.
Officials say this move will facilitate increased availability of doctors and specialists, enhance access to quality healthcare, especially in rural and remote regions, and further India’s ambition of becoming a global healthcare hub.
The government will issue detailed guidelines through the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for implementation of the scheme across states and union territories.
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