The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has reported substantial expansion of medical education infrastructure in India since 2014, with quantitative metrics showing dramatic growth across all parameters. The number of medical colleges has increased by 118.6%, rising from 387 before 2014 to 846 at present. MBBS seats have grown by 172.4% from 51,348 to 1,39,864, while PG medical seats have increased by 176.9% from 31,185 to 86,360 during the same period.
This expansion has been driven by multiple government schemes with significant financial allocations. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishing new medical colleges by upgrading district/referral hospitals, 157 new medical colleges have been approved. For strengthening existing medical colleges, support has been provided for increasing 4,977 MBBS seats in 83 colleges with an approved cost of ₹5,972.20 crore, 4,058 PG seats in Phase-I in 72 colleges with ₹1,498.43 crore, and 4,000 PG seats in Phase-II in 65 colleges with ₹4,478.25 crore.
The Cabinet has approved Phase-III of the scheme to facilitate an additional 5,000 PG seats with an enhanced cost ceiling of ₹1.5 crore per seat and extension of the UG scheme for 5,023 MBBS seats also at ₹1.5 crore per seat, with implementation timeline set for 2028-2029. Under PMSSY's Super Specialty Blocks component, 75 projects have been approved with 71 completed. Additionally, 22 new AIIMS have been approved under the Central Sector Scheme, with undergraduate courses operational in 19 institutions. Union Minister of State Smt. Anupriya Patel provided this information in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on August 7, 2026.