In a move set to reshape India’s medical education landscape, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to upgrade government medical colleges, postgraduate institutes, and hospitals across the country.
The decision will create 5,000 new postgraduate seats and 5,023 undergraduate (MBBS) seats, opening doors for thousands of aspiring doctors and strengthening India’s healthcare system.
Why This Matters
India has witnessed a rapid rise in medical colleges over the past decade, yet the demand for trained doctors continues to outpace supply especially in rural and underserved regions. With this latest expansion, the government aims to bridge the gap by ensuring a steady stream of specialist doctors while giving students more affordable opportunities to pursue medical education in government institutions.
Officials explained that the scheme will also introduce new specialties, improve teaching standards, and make better use of existing infrastructure, avoiding the high costs of building new institutions from scratch.
Financial Commitment
The expansion comes with a financial outlay of Rs. 15,034.50 crore for the period 2025-26 to 2028-29.
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Central Government’s share: Rs. 10,303.20 crore
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State Governments’ share: Rs. 4,731.30 crore
- Enhanced cost ceiling per seat: Rs. 1.50 crore
This shared funding model is expected to make the project both scalable and sustainable.
Bigger Picture
India currently has over 808 medical colleges, the highest in the world, with an intake capacity of more than 1.23 lakh MBBS seats. Over the past decade, MBBS seats have grown by 127%, while PG seats have increased by 143%.
Yet, despite progress, many parts of India especially rural belts still struggle with shortages of doctors. Experts believe that expanding government medical seats will help make healthcare more accessible, reduce dependence on costly private colleges, and ensure a balanced distribution of medical resources.
Voices from the Ground
Medical aspirants and parents have welcomed the move. For many, the availability of more government MBBS seats means a fairer chance at pursuing medicine without exorbitant fees. At the same time, healthcare experts stress that alongside creating seats, equal attention must be given to faculty availability, infrastructure, and quality of education to ensure long-term success.
What’s Next?
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare will soon issue implementation guidelines for states. The seat expansion is expected to roll out gradually, with the full target of 10,023 seats achieved by 2028-29.
If executed effectively, the scheme could mark a turning point for India’s medical education system, producing not just more doctors but also better-trained specialists to serve every corner of the country.
