The government says postgraduate medical seats have also increased to 86,360, while further expansion of more than 10,000 UG and PG seats is planned by 2028-29.
The number of medical colleges in India has increased from 387 before 2014 to 846 at present, while MBBS seats have risen from 51,348 to 1,39,864, according to information shared by the Union government in the Lok Sabha on 7 August 2026.
Postgraduate medical seats have also increased from 31,185 before 2014 to 86,360 at present. The government said this represents increases of 118.6% in medical colleges, 172.4% in MBBS seats and 176.9% in PG seats.
The figures were provided by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
As part of efforts to expand medical education infrastructure, the government has approved 157 new medical colleges under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that supports the establishment of medical colleges by upgrading district and referral hospitals.
Another Centrally Sponsored Scheme supports the strengthening and upgrading of existing State and Central government medical colleges to increase undergraduate and postgraduate capacity.
Under the scheme, support has been provided for an additional 4,977 MBBS seats across 83 colleges at an approved cost of ₹5,972.20 crore.
For postgraduate medical education, support has been provided for 4,058 seats across 72 colleges under Phase I at an approved cost of ₹1,498.43 crore. Another 4,000 PG seats across 65 colleges have been supported under Phase II at an approved cost of ₹4,478.25 crore.
The Cabinet has also approved Phase III of the scheme for strengthening and upgrading existing State and Central government medical colleges, standalone postgraduate institutes and government hospitals. This phase is intended to facilitate an additional 5,000 PG seats, with an enhanced cost ceiling of ₹1.5 crore per seat.
The existing undergraduate scheme has also been extended to support another 5,023 MBBS seats, with an enhanced cost ceiling of ₹1.5 crore per seat. Both schemes are scheduled for implementation by 2028-29.
Medical education infrastructure is also being expanded through the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). Under its component for upgrading government medical colleges through the construction of super-specialty blocks, 75 projects have been approved, of which 71 have been completed.
Separately, 22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences have been approved under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up new AIIMS. Undergraduate courses have started at 19 of these institutes.
