New Delhi, September 25: In a major push to expand India’s healthcare and medical education infrastructure, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved a scheme to add 5,000 postgraduate (PG) seats and 5,023 MBBS seats across the country at a total cost of ₹15,034.50 crore.
The approval comes under Phase III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) aimed at strengthening and upgrading existing state-run and central government medical colleges, standalone PG institutes, and government hospitals. According to the Cabinet communiqué, the initiative will be implemented during the period 2025-26 to 2028-29, with a central share of ₹10,303.20 crore and state share of ₹4,731.30 crore.
Each new seat will be created with an enhanced cost ceiling of ₹1.50 crore, reflecting the government’s commitment to bridging gaps in healthcare accessibility and affordability across different regions.
The scheme aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s Independence Day 2024 announcement to create 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years as part of efforts to boost the healthcare workforce and infrastructure. The Cabinet noted that the expansion will “significantly increase undergraduate medical capacity, ensure availability of specialist doctors, enable introduction of new specialties across government institutions, and improve access to quality healthcare, particularly in underserved areas.”
India currently has 808 medical colleges—the highest in the world—with an intake capacity of 1,23,700 MBBS seats. Over the past decade, the country has witnessed substantial growth in medical education: 69,352 MBBS seats were added (127% growth) and 43,041 PG seats (143% growth). Despite this, the government acknowledged that certain regions still face shortfalls in meeting demand, access, and affordability of healthcare.
The Cabinet said the new expansion would not only improve healthcare delivery but also strengthen the pipeline of doctors and specialists, ensuring long-term benefits for India’s public health system.
