In a major boost to medical education in India, the Government has approved 43 new medical colleges for the 2025-26 academic session, adding 11,682 new MBBS seats across the country. The information was shared in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel.

According to the announcement, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has conducted its annual inspection and approval process, resulting in a significant expansion of medical education infrastructure. Along with undergraduate seats, the commission has also approved 8,967 new postgraduate (PG) medical seats for the same academic cycle.

These postgraduate seats include those in leading institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other Institutes of National Importance (INIs). The move is aimed at strengthening India’s healthcare workforce by increasing the availability of trained doctors and specialists.

The expansion forms part of the central government's long-term strategy to increase medical education capacity across India. Over the past decade, the number of medical colleges has significantly increased, helping address the shortage of doctors and improving healthcare accessibility in both urban and rural areas.

With the addition of these new seats, aspiring candidates preparing for NEET UG and NEET PG will have more opportunities to secure admission into medical courses in India.

Experts believe that this expansion will not only improve the doctor-patient ratio but also strengthen the country's medical education ecosystem and healthcare infrastructure.