Parliament Question: Modernisation of Medical Education in India

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3234 TO BE ANSWERED ON07THAUGUST, 2026 MODERNISATIONOFMEDICALEDUCATIONIN INDIA 3234.SHRIPUTTAMAHESH KUMAR: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any study to modernise medical education in the country; (b) if so, the detailsthereof,along with the steps undertakenoverthe last five years, especially in this regards to use of emerging and modern technologies in medical colleges and hospitals across the country; (c) the details of the total amount of funds allocated, released and utilised to modernise the curriculum and infrastructure in medical colleges across the country, State-wise particularly in Andhra Pradesh;and (d) whether the Government has considered integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and blockchain based initiatives into medical education across the country and if so, the detailsthereofand if not,the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL) (a) to (d): The National Medical Commission (NMC) is an apex statutory body constituted by an Act of Parliament, entrusted with the responsibility of regulating and overseeing medical education and practice across the country. The Commission has undertaken comprehensive measures to modernize the quality of medical education in the country including the Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) Curriculum, 2024. To fulfill the objective of CBME, the medical colleges are expected to offer a range of elective options in areassuch as the use of Artificial Intelligence, computers in health and medical education and ethicaluse of technologyincludingAI. Minimum Standard Requirementsfor Post Graduate Courses (PGMSR-2023) mandateswell equipped departmental and central research laboratories, modern diagnostic and imaging facilities, digital libraries, access to e-journals and online research databases, high speed internetandWi-Fi connectivityinthe medicalcolleges/institutions. Further, the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER 2023) requires that students maintaindigitallogbooksfor recordingclinical work, proceduresandacademic activities. Departments are encouraged to promote e-learning and digital documentation as part of trainingprogramme In addition, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has launched an online training programme on Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education for healthcareprofessionals from across the country. The government has increased number of Medical Colleges, Under Graduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) seats. The number of Medical Colleges have increased from 387 to 846; UG seats from 51,348to1,39,489 andPGseats from 31,185to86,360 from 2014toasondate. The Government has implemented following schemes to improve the infrastructure for Medical educationinthe country:  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 139 new medical colleges are functionalout of 157approvedmedical colleges.  Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats. During the last five financial years (2021-22 to 2025-26), Central assistance hasbeen released to various States/UTs under the above schemes. The year-wise total Central funds released under the above componentsof Centrally SponsoredSchemeare asfollows: FinancialYear CentralFundsReleased(₹crore) 2021-22 5,051.10 2022-23 1,974.87 2023-24 928.78 2024-25 294.26 2025-26 1,309.106With regard to the State of Andhra Pradesh, Central funds released under the above schemes during the same periodare asfollows: Scheme 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 Total (₹ crore) Establishment 150.00 0.00 70.47 0.00 121.89 342.36 of New Medical Colleges Increase inPG 0.00 113.40 85.05 0.00 49.21 247.66 Seats GrandTotal 150.00 113.40 155.52 0.00 171.10 590.02 ****