- 5,000 new PG seats and 5,023 MBBS seats approved nationwide
- Total investment of Rs 15,034.50 crore, Central share Rs 10,303.20 crore
- Focus on improving healthcare access in underserved regions
- Employment generation for medical and allied professionals
- New AIIMS and faculty regulations to support high-quality medical education
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th Sept: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to strengthen and upgrade existing government medical colleges and hospitals. The initiative aims to create 5,000 new postgraduate (PG) seats and 5,023 undergraduate (MBBS) seats with an enhanced cost ceiling of Rs 1.50 crore per seat, significantly boosting India’s medical education and healthcare capacity.
The total financial outlay for these schemes from 2025-26 to 2028-29 is Rs 15,034.50 crore, with the Central share at Rs 10,303.20 crore and state share at Rs 4,731.30 crore.
Key Benefits
- Increased opportunities for students to pursue medical education in India.
- Strengthened availability of doctors and specialists, improving access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
- Promotion of balanced regional distribution of healthcare resources.
- Cost-effective expansion of tertiary healthcare through existing infrastructure.
- Enhancement of medical education quality to meet global standards.
- Creation of direct and indirect employment for doctors, faculty, paramedical staff, researchers, and support services.
- Contribution to socio-economic development and resilience of health systems.
Implementation Strategy and Targets
- The schemes aim to increase 5,000 PG seats and 5,023 UG seats in government institutions by 2028-29.
- Detailed implementation guidelines will be issued by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoH&FW).
Background
India currently has 808 medical colleges with a total intake capacity of 1,23,700 MBBS seats, the highest in the world. Over the last decade, 69,352 new MBBS seats and 43,041 PG seats were added, showing growth of 127% and 143%, respectively. Despite this expansion, certain regions still require enhanced capacity to meet healthcare demand.
The 22 new AIIMS institutions approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) are also contributing to creating a pool of highly qualified healthcare professionals. New Medical Institution (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations 2025 have been introduced to expand faculty recruitment and ensure competency-based standards.
The expansion of medical education capacity underscores the Government’s commitment to strengthening human resources in health and ensuring universal access to quality healthcare across India.
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