On Friday, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said India started 60 new medical colleges in one year—8.07 % more. Emphasizing the ministry’s performance in the new government’s initial 100 days, Nadda further pointed out that the number of medical colleges has increased from 706 in 2023-24 to 766 in 2024-25.
Outlining the expansion scenario, Nadda pointed to the increase in medical colleges from 387 in the 2013-14 batch to 766 in the 2024-25 batch, as per the PIB. Altogether, 379 new medical colleges have been included, which has led to the provision of education in 423 government and 343 private medical organizations across the country.
Increase in MBBS and PG Seats
Medical colleges have also grown over the years, and consequently, there has been an increase in the number of seats for interested candidates who intend to become doctors. This means the MBBS seats have risen by 6.30%, from 108940 in the academic year 2023-24 to 115812 in 2024-25. The MBBS intake capacity has increased by 64,464 over the past decade and 51,348 in the 2013-2014 academic session.
Similarly, postgraduate medical seats have been augmented by 5.92%, from 69,024 in 2023-24 to 73,111 in 2024-25. Since the last ten years, there has been an increase in PG seats to the tune of 39,460, which is an increase of 127% from the previous total of 31,185 in 2013-14.
Apart from these, there is another new development, the Health Minister has stated that the land problem for AIIMS, Darbhanga is hereby concluded and the Bihar Government has transferred 150.13 acres of land on 12 th of August, 2024.
This proposed AIIMS facility to be set up as per the Union Cabinet approval on September 15, 2020, earmarked at an estimated cost of ₹ 1,264 crore intends to spread access to affordable tertiary healthcare and cut down on out-of-pocket expenditure on the part of the patients.
