**Policy Summary: Improvements in Medical Education (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)**
As of July 25, 2025, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has undertaken several initiatives to improve medical education in India. The number of medical colleges has increased from 387 to 780 since 2014, with undergraduate (UG) seats rising from 51,348 to 115,900 and postgraduate (PG) seats increasing from 31,185 to 74,306.
According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 1,386,157 registered allopathic doctors. The Ministry of AYUSH reports 751,768 registered practitioners in the AYUSH system of medicine. Factoring in 80% availability of registered practitioners across both systems, the estimated doctor-population ratio is 1:811.
The "Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses Assessment and Rating Regulations 2023 (MSR2023)" outlines the infrastructure and faculty requirements for undergraduate courses based on student intake.
To address geographic disparities, the government is implementing schemes prioritizing underserved areas and aspirational districts, including:
* A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishing new medical colleges by upgrading district referral hospitals. To date, 131 of 157 approved medical colleges are functional under this scheme.
* A Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening and upgrading existing State/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
* The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, focused on upgrading Government Medical Colleges through the construction of Super Specialty Blocks. 71 of 75 approved projects are complete.
* Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved, with undergraduate courses started in 19 of these institutions.
This information was provided by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
AYUSH: An acronym for the traditional and non-conventional systems of healthcare and medicine that includes Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.
National Medical Commission NMC: The regulatory body for medical education and medical professionals in India.
AIIMS: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, a group of autonomous public medical institutions of higher education.
Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana PMSSY: A central government scheme in India aimed at improving tertiary healthcare infrastructure.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
Delhi: The National Capital Territory of Delhi, India
Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses Assessment and Rating Regulations 2023 MSR2023: Guidelines specifying the minimum infrastructure and faculty requirements for undergraduate courses based on student intake.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Steps taken to Improve Medical Education
Presently there are 13,86,157 registered allopathic
doctors and 7,51,768 registered practitioners in the
AYUSH system of medicine
131 Medical Colleges are currently functional out of
157 approved new medical colleges
71 Projects under “Upgradation of Government
Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty
Blocks” of PMSSY scheme has been completed out
of approved 75 projects
UG courses have commenced in 19 of the 22
approved AIIMS
Posted On: 25 JUL 2025 3:46PM by PIB Delhi
The government has increased the 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 51,348 to 1,15,900 and
PG seats from 31,185 to 74,306 from 2014 till date.
As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,157 registered
allopathic doctors. According to the Ministry of AYUSH, there are 7,51,768 registered practitioners in the
AYUSH system of medicine. Assuming that 80% of registered practitioners in both the allopathic and
AYUSH systems are available, the doctor-population ratio in the country is estimated to be 1:811.
The Guidelines for Undergraduate Courses, as outlined in the Establishment of New Medical Institutions,
Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating
Regulations 2023 (MSR-2023), specifies the minimum infrastructure and faculty requirements based on
student intake.
To address geographic and regional disparities, the Government is implementing following schemes withpreference to underserved areas and aspirational districts:
Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/
(cid:108)
referral hospital under which 131 new medical colleges are functional out of 157 approved medical
colleges.
Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central
(cid:108)
Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
Under “Upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks”
(cid:108)
of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) scheme, a total of 75 projects has been
approved, of which 71 projects are complete.
Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved.
(cid:108)
Undergraduate courses have been started in 19 of these.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel stated this in a written reply
in the Lok Sabha today.
****
MV
HFW/PQ-Steps taken to improve Medical Education/25 July2025/2
(Release ID: 2148365)