**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha regarding the shortage of trained nurses and midwives in India, to be answered on December 5th, 2025. It provides data on registered nursing personnel as of March 31st, 2025, and outlines government schemes to address the shortage by establishing new nursing colleges and upgrading existing nursing schools. Details are provided in Annexures I-IV.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Registered Nursing Personnel (as of March 31st, 2025):**
* Registered Nurses & Registered Midwives (RN & RM): 31.62 lakh
* Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM): 10.74 lakh
* Lady Health Visitors (LHV): 57.17 thousand
* **Nurse-Population Ratio:**
* The estimated nurse-population ratio in the country is 1:411 (2.5 nurses per 1000).
* **Government Initiatives:**
* **Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS):** “Augmenting Nursing Education – Establishment of New Colleges of Nursing in co-location with Medical Colleges” for setting up 157 Nursing Colleges, sanctioned in 2023.
* Proposals for 113 colleges of Nursing from States/UTs have been received and approved.
* Details in Annexure III.
* **Central Sector Scheme:** “Development of Nursing Services” supports the upgradation of existing Schools of Nursing into Colleges of Nursing.
* Sanctions ₹7.00 Crore per institution for upgradation.
* 29 Schools of Nursing approved for upgradation previously.
* State/UT-wise list in Annexure IV.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: General Public**
* **Impact:** Better access to healthcare services through increased availability of trained nurses and midwives.
* **Action Required:** None
**Stakeholder: Nursing Professionals and Students**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunities for education, training, and employment in the nursing field.
* **Action Required:** Consider the opportunities available through the government's initiatives.
**Stakeholder: States/UTs**
* **Impact:** Improved healthcare infrastructure and capacity, particularly in nursing education.
* **Action Required:** Continue to submit proposals for establishing new nursing colleges and upgrading existing schools.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
* **Impact:** Management and oversight of the implementation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme and the Central Sector Scheme.
* **Action Required:** Continue administering and monitoring the progress of the schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry responding to the questions about nurses and midwives.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) “Augmenting Nursing Education – Establishment of New Colleges of Nursing in co-location with Medical Colleges”: A scheme to set up new nursing colleges.
Indian Nursing Council (INC): The source of data for registered nurses and midwives.
Central Sector Scheme “Development of Nursing Services”: A scheme focused on upgrading existing schools of nursing.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 935
TO BE ANSWERED ON05th DECEMBER, 2025
SHORTAGEOFTRAINED NURSES AND MIDWIVES
935: SHRISAPTAGIRISANKAR ULAKA
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) the number of registered Nurses and Midwives in the country in the year 2025-26, State
-wise;
(b) the number of registered Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM) and Lady Health Visitors
in the country in the year 2025-26, State-wise;
(c) whether the nurse-population ratio indicate a shortage of trained nurses and midwives
in the country and if so, the measures taken by the Government to promote nursing degrees
in the country; and
(d) whether the Government has received any proposals from the States/UTs for setting up
or upgradation of nursing institutions and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH
AND FAMILYWELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a)to(c) As per the Indian Nursing Council (INC) records, there are 31.62 lakh
Registered Nurses &Registered Midwives (RN &RM), 10.74 Lakh Auxiliary Nurse
Midwives(ANM) and 57.17 Thousand Lady Health Visitors (LHV) registered in the country
as on 31st March, 2025. Based on the total registered nursing personnel, the estimated Nurse-
Population ratio works out to 1:411(2.5 nurses per 1000) in the country. Details are as per
Annexure- I& Annexure-II.
(d) The Government has sanctioned the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)
“AugmentingNursing Education– Establishment of New Collegesof Nursing inco-location
with Medical Colleges” for setting up157Nursing Collegesin2023.As ondate,prop
osals for 113 colleges of Nursing from States/UTs have been received and approved by the
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The details are as per Annexure III. The Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare also administers the Central Sector Scheme “Development of
Nursing Services”, which provides financial support for the upgradation of existing Schools
of Nursing into Colleges of Nursing. As per the scheme guidelines, ₹7.00 Crore is
sanctioned for each institution approved for upgradation. During the previous years, 29
Schools of Nursing have been approved for upgradation under the scheme. The State/UT-
wise list of these 29Schoolsof Nursing, isplaced at Annexure-IV.