Centre approves 5,000 more postgraduate medical seats by 2028-29

India’s postgraduate medical education capacity is set for another expansion, with the Centre approving 5,000 additional postgraduate medical seats over the next four years.Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that India currently has 86,360 postgraduate medical seats. The new seats will be created under Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening and upgrading existing state and central government medical colleges, standalone postgraduate institutes and government hospitals.5,000 NEW SEATS ON THE WAYThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said 5,000 seats will be added between 2025-26 and 2028-29. The government has also raised the financial support ceiling to Rs 1.50 crore per postgraduate seat.The expansion is aimed at increasing access to specialist medical training and addressing the country's continuing need for specialist doctors. KARNATAKA LEADS THE SEAT COUNTKarnataka currently has the highest number of postgraduate medical seats, with 10,092 seats for 2026-27. Of these, 2,805 are in government colleges and 7,287 in private institutions.Maharashtra follows with 9,216 seats, including 4,277 government and 4,939 private seats. Tamil Nadu has 8,023 seats, comprising 3,030 government and 4,993 private seats. Uttar Pradesh has 7,437 seats, split between 3,568 government and 3,869 private seats. Telangana has 5,248 seats, while Andhra Pradesh has 4,782.The figures also show how heavily postgraduate medical education remains concentrated in states with a large private medical college network.EXPANSION WITH QUALITY CHECKSThe Centre said postgraduate expansion will continue under the National Medical Commission’s Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 and Post Graduate Minimum Standards Requirement, 2024.Medical colleges seeking new courses or additional seats must meet requirements covering faculty, infrastructure, hospital facilities and clinical material. Proposals are assessed against these standards before approval.The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences is also easing accreditation norms without compromising educational standards, introducing new postgraduate courses and implementing a Joint Accreditation Scheme. It is encouraging district hospitals to seek accreditation for postgraduate programmes and conducting outreach with states and other stakeholders.SEAT APPROVALS HAVE CLIMBEDThe government also highlighted the rise in postgraduate seat approvals over the past decade. In 2014-15, the National Medical Commission approved 415 seats and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences approved 612.In 2025-26, approvals reached 9,084 seats through the National Medical Commission and 2,009 through the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences.For 2024-25, the figures were 4,188 and 1,667 respectively, while in 2023-24 they stood at 4,713 and 1,209.NO PLAN TO CONVERT ALL DIPLOMASThe Centre also clarified that there is currently no proposal to convert all diploma seats into Diplomate of National Board degree seats.Postgraduate medical tuition fees continue to be regulated by individual states and Union Territories. The National Medical Commission’s 2022 guidelines on fees for 50 per cent of seats in private colleges and deemed universities remain under judicial scrutiny.For National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences programmes, including Diplomate of National Board, Doctorate of National Board, Fellowship of National Board and diploma courses, the annual fee is centrally regulated at Rs 1.25 lakh.With 86,360 seats already available and 5,000 more planned, the Centre’s latest move seeks to expand specialist training while strengthening the infrastructure supporting India’s medical workforce.- EndsPublished By: Princy ShuklaPublished On: Aug 8, 2026 12:01 IST