**Executive Summary:**
This document, a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2096, details the availability of undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) medical seats in India. It outlines the doctor-to-population ratio, improvements in medical seat availability since 2014, government measures to expand medical education, and relaxations in norms for establishing medical colleges. The information is current as of August 1, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Doctor-to-Population Ratio:**
* India has 13,86,157 registered allopathic doctors and 7,51,768 registered AYUSH practitioners.
* The estimated doctor-to-population ratio is 1:811, improved from 1:845 in 2020, assuming 80% availability of registered practitioners.
* The WHO recommends a ratio of 1:1000.
* **Increase in Medical Colleges and Seats (2014 to Present):**
* Medical colleges increased from 387 to 780.
* UG seats increased from 51,348 to 1,15,900.
* PG seats increased from 31,185 to 74,306.
* **Government Schemes for Expanding Medical Education:**
* Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishing new medical colleges by upgrading district referral hospitals (131 of 157 approved colleges are functional).
* Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/upgrading existing medical colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
* Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) includes upgrading Government Medical Colleges (71 of 75 projects completed) and setting up new AIIMS (22 approved).
* **Relaxation of Norms by National Medical Commission (NMC):**
* Mandatory land requirement for setting up a medical college has been removed.
* The number of subjects in the MBBS curriculum has been reduced from 23 to 20.
* Stepwise and need-based approach permitted for increasing infrastructure, equipment, and manpower.
* PG courses can be started with two seats, 20 beds, and two faculty without a senior resident.
* Medical institutions can apply for PG courses after one year of starting UG courses.
* DNB qualification recognized for faculty appointments.
* The age limit for teachers/Deans/Principals/Directors in medical colleges extended up to 70 years.
* Non-medical graduates with relevant MSc and PhD qualifications can be appointed as faculty.
* Non-teaching Consultants/Specialists/Medical Officers and Diploma holders are eligible to be Assistant Professors.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Medical Students:**
* *Impact:* Increased opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education due to expanded seat availability and relaxed eligibility criteria.
* *Action Required:* Explore the increased number of seats and evolving curriculum changes.
* **Medical Colleges/Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Facilitated establishment and expansion due to relaxed infrastructure and faculty norms, potentially leading to increased enrollment and program offerings.
* *Action Required:* Review and implement changes related to infrastructure, faculty, and curriculum to comply with new NMC guidelines.
* **Faculty/Medical Professionals:**
* *Impact:* Expanded eligibility criteria for faculty positions, including recognition of DNB qualifications and allowance for non-medical graduates with relevant qualifications.
* *Action Required:* Understand the revised eligibility criteria for faculty positions and explore opportunities for appointment/advancement.
* **Citizens/Patients:**
* *Impact:* Potential for improved access to healthcare due to increased doctor-to-population ratio and expanded medical education infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas.
* *Action Required:* None.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question was raised.
MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, an undergraduate medical degree.
MD/MS/DNB: Doctor of Medicine, Master of Surgery, and Diplomate of National Board, postgraduate medical qualifications.
AYUSH: The traditional and non-conventional systems of healthcare and medicine in India. (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy).
World Health Organisation (WHO): An international organization that recommends a doctor-to-population ratio.
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY): An Indian government scheme for upgrading government medical colleges and establishing new AIIMS.
National Medical Commission (NMC): An Indian regulatory body for medical education and professionals.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2096
TO BE ANSWERED ON1STAUGUST, 2025
AVAILABILITYOFUG AND PGMEDICALSEATS
2096.SHRIGURMEETSINGH MEETHAYER:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government maintains data on the current doctor-to-population ratio in the
country and the manner in which this ratio has changed during the last five years and if so,
the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government has records on the per capita availability of undergraduate
(MBBS) and postgraduate (MD/MS/DNB) medical seats and the manner inwhich these have
improvedduring the same period;
(c) the details of the specific measures taken by the Government to expand the number of
medicalcolleges andseats across States,particularlyinunderserved or rural areas;
(d) whether the Government has reviewed international benchmarks on doctor-patient ratios
and if so, the manner in which India compares with countries like the US, Germany and
Australia; and
(e)whether the Government hasdata on doctorstrainedinIndia who have left India for better
opportunitiesoverseas during the last five yearsandif so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (e): There are 13,86,157 registered allopathic doctors and 7,51,768 registered
practitioners in the AYUSH system of medicine. The World Health Organisation (WHO)
recommends a doctor to population ratio of 1:1000. Assuming that 80% of registered
practitioners in both the allopathic and AYUSH systems are available, the doctor-population
ratiointhe countryisestimated tobe 1:811 which was 1:845inthe year2020.
The government has increased number of Medical Colleges, Under Graduate(UG) and Post
Graduate(PG) seats. There is an increase in Medical Colleges from 387 to 780; UG seats
from 51,348to1,15,900 andPGseats from 31,185to74,306from 2014toasondate.
To expand the number of medical colleges, the Government is implementing following
schemeswith preference tounderserved areas:
i. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgradingdistrict/ referral hospital under which 131 new medical colleges are functional out of
157approvedmedicalcolleges.
ii. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State
Government/Central Government Medical Collegestoincrease MBBS andPGseats.
iii. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme has a component
related to “Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super
Specialty Blocks/Trauma care centres, etc.” Out of 75 projects, 71 projects are
completeunderthiscomponent.The othercomponentisfor settingupofnewAIIMS,
22AIIMS have beenapproved.
Further, National Medical Commission (NMC) has relaxed infrastructure/faculty norms for
establishment of new medical colleges and/or increase of Under Graduate (UG)/Post
Graduate (PG)seats, which includes:
i. Mandatory landrequirement for setting upa medicalcollegehasbeenremoved.
ii. The number of subjects inthe MBBS curriculumhasbeen reducedfrom twenty three
(23) totwenty (20).
iii. Stepwise and need based approach has been permitted for increase in infrastructure,
equipmentandmanpower.
iv. PG courses can now be started with two (2) seats with a minimum number of twenty
(20) beds and only two faculty without the need for senior resident as against the
previousrequirementof three facultyanda senior resident.
v. Medical institutions have been allowed to apply for starting of PG courses after one
yearof starting UG courses.
vi. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of
shortage of faculty.
vii. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts
of teachers/Dean/Principal/ Director inmedicalcollegesupto 70years.
viii.Non-medical graduates with MSc and PhD (relevant medical) qualifications from
NMC-recognized/accredited Medical Colleges/Institutes canbe appointedasfaculty.
ix. Non-teaching Consultants/Specialists /Medical Officers and Diploma holders have
beenmade eligible for Assistant Professor.
****