India’s medical education sector is currently undergoing an extraordinary transformation, marked by a historic surge in MBBS seats and the establishment of new medical colleges across the country. This remarkable expansion, led by the National Medical Commission (NMC), directly supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2024 pledge to add 75,000 new medical seats over five years. The primary goal is to improve healthcare accessibility and address the ongoing shortage of qualified medical professionals.
Dr. Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of the NMC, has lauded this growth as a significant regulatory achievement, highlighting that all appeals against decisions by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) were resolved without judicial intervention for the first time. In a further strategic move to bolster medical training, the NMC has collaborated with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to weave clinical research directly into the MBBS curriculum, thereby strengthening research capabilities within medical colleges nationwide.
Latest developments
In October 2025, the NMC officially approved 10,650 new MBBS seats and sanctioned 41 new medical colleges for the 2024–25 academic year. This brought the total number of institutions offering MBBS programs to 816 across India. When including seats from Institutes of National Importance such as AIIMS and JIPMER, India’s total MBBS seat count now stands at an impressive approximately 1,37,600.
These approvals followed the commission’s review of 170 proposals for expanding undergraduate capacity, with 41 originating from government colleges and 129 from private institutions. States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana were among those that saw substantial additions.
Medical seat expansion trend over 2025
Data from the NMC and the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) illustrate a consistent increase in MBBS seats throughout 2025. Here is a month-by-month breakdown based on MARB and NMC data:
May 2025
The NMC commenced its review of proposals for new undergraduate medical seats and institutions for the 2025–26 academic cycle. Initial assessments indicated approximately 1,17,750 MBBS seats across 808 medical colleges, setting the stage for future expansion.
June and July 2025
During this period, numerous states, notably Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, submitted proposals to the NMC and MARB for new colleges and expanded capacity. Review committees strategically prioritized underserved regions, including districts in northeastern and central India.
August 2025
The NMC announced the initial phase of inspections and renewals, aiming to finalize the seat matrix well in advance of NEET-UG counselling 2025. Provisional Letters of Permission (LOPs) granted for college upgrades contributed an additional 1,800 to 2,000 seats nationwide.
September 2025
Between September 24 and 26, 2025, the NMC released an updated seat matrix, adding a further 7,075 new MBBS seats. This raised the capacity from 1,17,750 to 1,24,825. This revision incorporated both renewal approvals and newly sanctioned seats across both government and private colleges, signaling the beginning of the most significant expansion phase since 2020.
Early October 2025
From October 10 to 13, 2025, the NMC issued another revision to the seat matrix for NEET-UG 2025. This phase saw the approval of 9,075 new MBBS seats, while approximately 456 seats were phased out due to ongoing lawsuits or non-compliance issues. The total number of MBBS seats subsequently reached 1,26,600 across 812 medical colleges, with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka benefiting from the largest increases.
Mid-October 2025: Record expansion announced
On October 19, 2025, the NMC officially approved an astounding 10,650 new MBBS seats and 41 new medical colleges. This brought the national total to a remarkable 1,37,600 seats and 816 colleges, as reported by PTI. This approval signifies the largest single-year seat expansion in the history of Indian medical education and significantly advances the government’s target of adding 75,000 new medical seats over a five-year period.
State-wise expansion highlights
The October 2025 NMC report specifically details the following state-wise increases:
- Uttar Pradesh: Over 1,100 seats across 5 colleges
- Maharashtra: Over 950 seats across 4 colleges
- Tamil Nadu: Over 850 seats across 3 colleges
- Gujarat: Over 800 seats
- Rajasthan: Over 700 seats
- Karnataka: Over 650 seats
- Madhya Pradesh: Over 600 seats
Notably, the majority of these new colleges and seat expansions are being established in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. This strategic decentralization aims to improve geographical access to medical education and effectively diminish regional disparities in healthcare training.
The road ahead
The NMC has indicated that additional proposals for 2025–26 seat expansions are currently under review, with the application window set to open in early November. Should the current rapid pace of expansion continue, India is projected to achieve its ambitious goal of adding 75,000 new medical seats well before the target year of 2029. This period marks a truly transformative moment for India’s medical education landscape, promising substantial benefits for aspiring NEET candidates and profoundly addressing the country’s long-term healthcare requirements.
With inputs from PTI.