Panel approves 10,650 MBBS seats for 2025-26

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 10,650 new MBBS seats for the academic year 2025-26 taking the overall MBBS seat count to 1,37,600 for the 2025-26 academic year, including seats in the Institutes of National Importance. The addition of 41 new medical colleges has also brought the total number of medical institutions in the country to 816.

The move is aligned with PM Narendra Modi’s Independence Day announcement to create 75,000 new medical seats over five years.

According to NMC Chief Dr Abhijat Sheth, of the 170 applications received for expanding undergraduate (UG) seats — 41 from government colleges and 129 from private institutions — a total of 10,650 MBBS seats have been approved. For postgraduate (PG) courses, the NMC has received over 3,500 applications for new and renewed seats.

Dr Sheth stated that the commission expected an increase of around 5,000 PG seats, taking the total to 67,000 PG seats nationwide. The overall increase in both UG and PG seats this year would be approximately 15,000.

To enhance the quality of medical education, Dr Sheth also announced that the NMC was exploring the integration of clinical research into the mainstream medical curriculum.

Plans were underway for a collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research to strengthen research infrastructure and promote clinical research in medical education.