New Delhi, Oct 19: In a major step toward expanding medical education in India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 10,650 new MBBS seats for the 2024-25 academic year, alongside 41 new medical colleges, raising the total number of medical institutions in the country to 816.
The move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day 2024 pledge to create 75,000 new medical seats over five years. With the addition, the overall MBBS seat count for 2024-25 will reach 1,37,600, including seats in Institutes of National Importance (INI).
Out of 170 applications for expanding undergraduate seats—41 from government colleges and 129 from private institutions—10,650 MBBS seats have been approved, NMC Chief Dr. Abhijat Sheth said. For postgraduate courses, over 3,500 applications were received, and around 5,000 new PG seats are expected, bringing the total to 67,000 nationwide.
Officials assured that final approvals and counselling will be completed within prescribed timelines. A detailed blueprint for accreditation, examinations, and seat matrix approvals will be published soon, and the portal for 2025-26 applications will open in early November.
Dr. Sheth also highlighted that this year, all appeals against Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) decisions were resolved without court interventions. Additionally, the NMC plans to integrate clinical research into the medical curriculum in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to enhance research infrastructure and promote clinical research in medical education.
These initiatives aim to strengthen medical education capacity and address the growing demand for healthcare professionals across India. (Agencies)
