Expansion of Medical Education: 41 New Colleges and 10,650 MBBS Seats Approved for 2024-25

The National Medical Commission has approved the addition of 41 new medical colleges and 10,650 MBBS seats for the 2024-25 academic year. This expansion aims to improve access to medical education in India, bringing the total number of MBBS seats to 137,600. Additionally, an increase of approximately 5,000 postgraduate seats is expected, raising the total PG seats to 67,000. A detailed schedule for accreditation and examinations will be published soon, with the application portal for the 2025-26 academic year opening in early November. This marks a significant step in enhancing the medical education landscape in the country.

By Ambika Singh Oct 20, 2025, 12:48 IST

Significant Growth in Medical Education

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has sanctioned the establishment of 41 new medical colleges along with an addition of 10,650 MBBS seats for the academic year 2024-25. This initiative aims to enhance the accessibility of medical education across India.

According to NMC chief Dr. Abhijat Sheth, this expansion raises the total number of medical colleges in the country to 816. The newly approved MBBS seats will elevate the overall count to 137,600, which includes seats in Institutes of National Importance (INIs).

In terms of postgraduate (PG) education, the NMC has received over 3,500 applications for both new and renewed PG seats.

Dr. Sheth anticipates an increase of around 5,000 PG seats, which would bring the total PG seat count to 67,000. This year, the combined increase in undergraduate (UG) and PG seats is expected to be about 15,000. Despite some delays in the approval process, officials are confident that all necessary steps will be finalized on schedule.

A detailed plan outlining the timeline for accreditation, examinations, and seat matrix approval for the upcoming academic year will be released shortly. Furthermore, the application portal for the 2025-26 academic year is set to open in early November. Dr. Sheth noted that, for the first time in recent years, all appeals regarding decisions made by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) were resolved without court involvement.