The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (September 24) approved a plan to add 10,023 medical college seats across the country by the financial year 2028-29, aimed at addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals.
The initiative, with an estimated investment of ₹15,034.50 crore, will create 5,023 undergraduate (MBBS) and 5,000 postgraduate (PG) seats, according to an official statement.
The scheme will be implemented through a centrally sponsored model, focusing on strengthening and upgrading existing state and central government medical colleges, standalone postgraduate institutes, and government hospitals. The government stated that this approach is intended to expand capacity in a cost-effective manner by leveraging existing infrastructure.
The additional seats are expected to improve the availability of doctors and specialists, particularly in underserved regions, while also contributing to the regional balance of healthcare resources. Expanding postgraduate capacity is aimed at ensuring a consistent supply of specialists in critical disciplines.
The government said the move will create more opportunities for students to pursue medical education in India and enhance the quality of training to align with global standards. It also noted that a stronger pool of healthcare professionals could position India as a hub for affordable healthcare services.
Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Ravi Chandran K., consultant–urology, transplant, uro-oncology and robotic surgery at Sparsh Hospital, Bengaluru, said the expansion will only be effective if it is supported by adequate faculty recruitment, infrastructure readiness, and robust training systems. “Without strong support systems laboratories, clinical exposure, mentorship, and supervision quantity alone will not translate into better healthcare outcomes,” he said.
India currently has 808 medical colleges, the highest in the world, with an annual intake capacity of 123,700 MBBS students. Since 2014, MBBS seats have increased by 127% and PG seats by 143%, according to government data. The new plan builds on this growth trajectory.
