In a major boost, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has granted approval for Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) that focuses on expanding and modernizing medical education infrastructure across the country. Under this phase, a total of 10,023 new seats will be added—5,023 at the MBBS (undergraduate) level and 5,000 for postgraduate (PG) courses.
These seats will be distributed across existing government medical colleges, standalone PG institutions, and hospitals. The move is expected to address the persistent shortage of trained doctors and specialists in India, enhancing public health accessibility particularly in underserved regions.
The expansion is backed by a capital outlay of ₹15,034 crore, which has been approved to fund infrastructure upgrades, new facilities, labs, faculty recruitment, and related support systems.
While the policy is ambitious, several implementation challenges lie ahead: ensuring adequate faculty availability, maintaining quality standards across institutions, upgrading clinical infrastructure, and ensuring that newly created seats translate into improved healthcare delivery. The timeline for rollout and specific allocation of seats to states and institutions is yet to be fully disclosed.
If executed well, the expansion could markedly narrow the gap in doctor-to-population ratios, strengthen rural healthcare capacities, and bolster India’s preparedness against health emergencies.
