CABINET APPROVES EXPANSION OF 5,023 MBBS AND 5,000 PG SEATS IN MEDICAL COLLEGES

New Delhi, Sep 24, 2025 : The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the expansion of 5,023 MBBS and 5,000 PG seats in government medical colleges across the country at an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crore per seat.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav informed about the cabinet decision

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a proposal to this effect. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced the Cabinet's decision at a press conference held at the National Media Center.

This initiative is centrally sponsored.

He said this initiative was undertaken under the third phase of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). The total financial outlay for the scheme from 2025-26 to 2028-29 is Rs 15,034.50 crore, with the central share being Rs 10,303.20 crore and the states Rs 4,731.30 crore.

There are currently 808 medical colleges in the country, with 1,23,700 MBBS seats available.

There are currently 808 medical colleges in the country, offering a total of 123,700 MBBS seats. Over the past decade, 69,352 new MBBS and 43,041 PG seats have been added. Twenty-two new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMMSY) are providing high-quality tertiary healthcare services and preparing skilled health professionals through state-of-the-art teaching facilities.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this initiative will further strengthen the government's commitment to ensure comprehensive and quality access to healthcare services in the country.