Union Cabinet Sanctions 10,023 Medical Seats to Address Doctor Shortage
Expansion of PG and UG seats aims to bridge doctor shortage, improve rural healthcare, and boost India’s medical education infrastructure.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on September 24 approved the addition of 10,023 new medical seats across government colleges and hospitals with an investment of ₹15,034 crore. The move is a significant step toward strengthening healthcare delivery and medical education in India.
This expansion forms part of the government’s broader plan to create 75,000 additional medical seats in the next five years, addressing the widening gap between demand and availability of doctors. Despite rapid growth in medical infrastructure over the last decade, India’s healthcare system continues to face the challenge of ensuring adequate trained professionals for its 1.4 billion citizens.
“Approval of Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme will add significant PG and UG medical seats. This will improve our healthcare system and enhance medical education infrastructure. It will ensure that every part of India has access to skilled doctors,” PM Modi posted on X.
As per the official announcement, the Cabinet has approved 5,000 postgraduate and 5,023 undergraduate medical seats to be added by 2028–29. The new seats are expected to not only provide opportunities for aspiring doctors but also enhance healthcare delivery in underserved rural, tribal, and remote regions.
The government highlighted that the move will further position India as a global hub for affordable healthcare, while also creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for doctors, faculty, paramedics, researchers, and support staff.
