The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an investment of ₹15,034 crore to enhance medical education in India. This initiative is expected to improve access to medical education, responding to the increasing number of aspirants. It is part of the third phase of the Centrally-sponsored scheme (CSS) aimed at strengthening and upgrading existing state and central government medical colleges, standalone postgraduate institutes, and government hospitals. This initiative will add 5,000 postgraduate seats and increase 5,023 MBBS seats, with a cost ceiling of ₹1.50 crore per seat, according to a press release from PIB. The total financial commitment for these two schemes is ₹15,034.50 crore, covering the period from 2025-26 to 2028-29.
Out of this amount, ₹10,303.20 crore will come from the central government, while states will contribute ₹4,731.30 crore. The objective of the scheme is to enhance undergraduate medical capacity, increase the number of specialist doctors by creating more postgraduate seats, and facilitate the introduction of new specialties in government medical institutions. It will also utilize existing infrastructure for cost-effective expansion of tertiary healthcare in government facilities, ensuring a consistent supply of specialists in critical areas. The long-term vision of the scheme is to strengthen the health system in the country to address current and future health demands. Over recent years, India’s healthcare education and workforce infrastructure has expanded significantly, showing a dedicated policy focus on improving access and quality.
Currently, India boasts 808 medical colleges, the highest in the world, with a total intake capacity of 123,700 MBBS seats. In the past decade, 69,352 new MBBS seats have been added, representing a 127% growth. Likewise, 43,041 postgraduate seats were added during this period, reflecting a 143% increase. Despite this notable growth, there are still regions that require capacity enhancements to meet healthcare demand, access, and affordability. To address the need for qualified faculty, new medical institution regulations for faculty qualifications have been introduced, adopting a more inclusive and competency-based approach to eligibility and recruitment, aimed at meeting the academic and professional standards.