MBBS seats in India are set to increase significantly as the Union Cabinet has approved 10,023 new MBBS and postgraduate seats in government medical colleges. With an investment of ₹15,034 crore, the move is expected to boost medical education and strengthen healthcare services nationwide.
Officials confirmed that the new seats will be created at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, ensuring more opportunities for students aspiring to pursue MBBS and PG programmes. The decision also aims to address the shortage of doctors in rural and underserved regions.
The health ministry has said that allocation of these medical seats in India will depend on the need and readiness of states, with priority given to areas having a weaker doctor-population ratio. Currently, India has 1 doctor per 1,456 people, higher than the WHO’s recommended ratio of 1:1,000.
Experts welcomed the Cabinet’s approval, calling it a “transformative step” in bridging the gap in India’s healthcare system. The initiative also aligns with the National Health Policy and reforms under the National Medical Commission to modernise medical education in India.