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New Delhi: In a significant milestone for India’s healthcare education, the number of medical colleges has doubled in the past decade, rising from 387 in 2013-14 to 780 in 2024-25, reflecting a growth of 102%. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare shared this data during a recent parliamentary session, underscoring the nation’s expanding healthcare infrastructure.
Simultaneously, the number of MBBS seats has seen a remarkable 130% increase, growing from 51,348 in 2013-14 to 1,18,137 in 2024-25. This surge aims to address the growing demand for medical professionals and enhance healthcare accessibility across the country.
Regional Highlights
- Uttar Pradesh emerged as a frontrunner in the expansion, witnessing a dramatic rise in medical colleges from 30 in 2014 to 86 in 2024. Correspondingly, MBBS seats in the state surged from 3,749 to 12,425, marking the highest growth nationwide.
- Maharashtra increased its number of medical colleges from 44 to 80, with seat capacity nearly doubling from 5,590 to 11,845.
- Telangana, which lacked any medical college in 2014, now boasts 65 colleges offering 9,040 MBBS seats, reflecting the state’s focused efforts in healthcare development.
- Rajasthan saw its medical colleges grow from 10 to 43, and MBBS seats from 1,750 to 6,475.
- Madhya Pradesh expanded its capacity significantly, with colleges increasing from 12 to 31 and seats growing from 1,700 to 5,200.
- Chhattisgarh also made strides, adding 11 colleges to reach 16, and increasing MBBS seats from 600 to 2,455.
Other states and Union Territories like Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Mizoram, and Nagaland established their first medical colleges during this period, marking a significant step in improving healthcare education in underserved regions.
Southern States Lead in Capacity
- Tamil Nadu now offers 12,050 MBBS seats, up from 6,215 a decade ago, while Karnataka increased its number of colleges from 46 to 73.
- The national capital, Delhi, added three medical colleges, taking the count to 10, with MBBS seats rising from 900 to 1,497.
Workforce Expansion
The Ministry also informed the Lok Sabha that 90,794 posts have been sanctioned for medical colleges across India, indicating an aligned push to enhance teaching resources and administrative support.
This unprecedented growth underscores India’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare system and ensuring equitable access to medical education. With such progress, the nation is poised to address its burgeoning healthcare needs more effectively.
