Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the addition of over 10,000 MBBS and postgraduate medical seats across government colleges and institutions. The Union Cabinet approved this landmark initiative on September 24, 2025, under Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a total investment of Rs. 15,034 crore. The expansion includes 5,023 undergraduate MBBS seats and 5,000 postgraduate seats to be implemented by 2028-29. This move is part of India’s broader vision to create 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years, demonstrating the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
Addressing Critical Healthcare Workforce Shortage
The initiative specifically targets India’s critical shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural and underserved regions. With the country’s population of 1.4 billion people, there is an urgent need for skilled doctors and specialists to ensure universal health coverage. The expansion will significantly augment undergraduate medical capacity while increasing the availability of specialist doctors through additional postgraduate seats. The scheme enables the introduction of new medical specialties across government institutions, strengthening the overall availability of qualified medical professionals nationwide.
Strategic Investment and Infrastructure Development
The Rs. 15,034 crore investment will be shared between the Union government (Rs. 10,303.20 crore) and state governments (Rs. 4,731.30 crore). The cost ceiling per seat has been enhanced to Rs. 1.50 crore to ensure high-quality infrastructure and training facilities. The scheme leverages existing infrastructure for cost-effective expansion of tertiary healthcare services in government institutions. This strategic approach promotes balanced regional distribution of healthcare resources across all states and union territories, addressing geographical disparities in medical access.
Building Foundation for Universal Healthcare
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that this expansion will improve India’s healthcare system and ensure skilled doctors are available in every part of the country. The initiative is expected to position India as a global hub for affordable healthcare while boosting foreign exchange earnings. Over the past decade, India has doubled its medical colleges from 387 to 808 institutions, now having the highest number of medical colleges in the world. The addition of these seats will create significant employment opportunities for doctors, faculty, paramedical staff, and researchers while strengthening India’s capacity to respond to current and future health challenges.