The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Phase III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to strengthen and upgrade State and Central Government medical colleges, standalone postgraduate institutes and government hospitals. The plan aims to add 5,000 postgraduate seats and 5,023 undergraduate (MBBS) seats across the country with an enhanced cost ceiling of ?1.50 crore per seat. This initiative is expected to significantly increase the availability of specialist doctors, expand undergraduate medical capacity, and introduce new specialties in government medical institutions, thereby boosting the overall availability of doctors in the country.
The schemes carry a combined financial outlay of ?15,034.50 crore for the period 2025–26 to 2028–29, with the Centre contributing ?10,303.20 crore and states contributing ?4,731.30 crore. By leveraging existing infrastructure, the government expects the initiative to be cost-effective while ensuring a steady supply of specialists in critical disciplines.
Officials said the expansion of medical seats across states and Union Territories would help address shortages of doctors and specialists, improve access to quality healthcare—especially in underserved areas—and promote balanced regional distribution of healthcare resources. The schemes are also expected to create direct and indirect employment opportunities in the medical and allied sectors, from faculty and paramedics to researchers and support services, strengthening the health system and contributing to socio-economic development.
Under the plan, 5,000 new postgraduate seats and 5,023 undergraduate seats will be added in government institutions by 2028–29. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will issue detailed guidelines for implementation.
The government noted that India already has the largest number of medical colleges in the world, with 808 institutions offering 1.23 lakh MBBS seats. Over the past decade, the country has added more than 69,000 MBBS seats and 43,000 PG seats, reflecting a growth of 127% and 143% respectively. Despite this rapid growth, regional gaps in capacity remain, prompting the latest expansion plan.
Officials also highlighted the role of 22 new AIIMS approved under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana, which are providing tertiary healthcare while building a pool of highly trained professionals. New Medical Institution (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025, have also been issued to expand the pool of qualified faculty by adopting a more inclusive and competency-based approach.
The Ministry said the new measures underscore the government’s commitment to strengthening human resources for health and improving access to quality healthcare services, which are critical to achieving universal health coverage for India’s 1.4 billion people.