As informed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), a total of 43 new Medical Colleges has been established across the country for the Academic Year (A.Y.) 2025–26. Further, the Government has approved 11,682 MBBS seats and 8,967 Postgraduate (PG) seats (including AIIMS and INIs) across the country for the said academic year.                     

NMC invites online applications every year from medical colleges/institutions across the country for establishment of new medical colleges and for increase of UG and PG seats. Further, Letter of Permission (LoP) or Letter of Disapproval (LoD) is issued after following due process of scrutiny and assessment, in accordance with the provisions of the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, Minimum Standard Requirement for Undergraduate courses (UGMSR), 2023, the Minimum Standard Requirement for Postgraduate courses (PGMSR), 2023, and other relevant norms and guidelines issued by the NMC from time to time.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals' with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college with fund sharing between the Centre and State Governments in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States and 60:40 for others. Under the Scheme, 157 medical colleges have been approved in three phases with a total approved cost of Rs. 41,332.41 cr. Out of central share of Rs. 26,715.84 Crores an amount of Rs. 23,246.10 Crores has been released so far.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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HFW/ Update on Medical Education/10 March 2026/4