Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel told the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that 43 new medical colleges have been established across the country for the 2025–26 academic year.

In a written reply, Patel said the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 11,682 MBBS seats and 8,967 postgraduate (PG) seats, including those at AIIMS and other Institutes of National Importance (INIs), for the same academic year.

The NMC invites online applications each year from medical colleges and institutions for the establishment of new colleges and the increase of undergraduate (UG) and PG seats.

Following scrutiny and assessment, the commission issues a letter of permission (LoP) or letter of disapproval (LoD) in accordance with the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, the Minimum Standard Requirement for Undergraduate Courses (UGMSR), 2023, the Minimum Standard Requirement for Postgraduate Courses (PGMSR), 2023, and other norms issued by the NMC.

Patel also said the Union Health Ministry administers a centrally sponsored scheme for the establishment of new medical colleges attached to existing district or referral hospitals, with preference given to underserved areas and aspirational districts where no government or private medical college exists.

Under the scheme, 157 medical colleges have been approved in three phases at a total cost of ₹41,332.41 crore. Of the central share of ₹26,715.84 crore, ₹23,246.10 crore has been released so far, Patel said.

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