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Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Thousands of medical seats are going vacant: What's really wrong with MBBS admissions in India?
India has seen a substantial rise in MBBS seats, from 83,275 in 2020–21 to 1,15,900 in 2024–25, yet the number of unfilled undergraduate medical seats remains a concern. On August 1, data shared in the Lok Sabha by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, confirmed that underutilisation of seats persists across medical colleges (excluding AIIMS and JIPMER), despite expanded capacity. The statistics were presented in response to an unstarred question raised by Telugu Desam Party MP Putta Mahesh Kumar and were sourced from the National Medical Commission (NMC). The highest number of vacancies was recorded in 2022–23 with 4,146 seats remaining unfilled. This number dropped to 2,959 in 2023–24 and further declined to 2,849 in the 2024–25 academic cycle. In 2021–22, 2,012 seats were vacant. Vacant UG Seats (Excluding AIIMS & JIPMER) 2021–22: 2,012 2022–23: 4,146 2023–24: 2,959 2024–25: 2,849 What's driving the expansion in MBBS seats? The government attributes the 39% increase in seats to three main factors: Opening of new medical colleges Improvements in faculty availability Strengthening of institutional infrastructure To ensure quality, the NMC has introduced the Minimum Standard Requirement Regulations, 2023, which prescribe benchmarks for infrastructure, clinical material, faculty, and facilities for establishing and maintaining medical colleges. Which states saw the biggest jump in seats? According to government data, states like Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat have added the most seats between 2020–21 and 2024–25. Smaller states and Union Territories have also seen increases. For instance: Arunachal Pradesh went from 50 to 100 seats Manipur from 225 to 525 Nagaland from 0 to 100 Meghalaya from 50 to 150 Full list of MBBS seat expansion by State/UT State/UT 2020–21 2024–25 Andaman & Nicobar 100 114 Andhra Pradesh 5,210 6,585 Arunachal Pradesh 50 100 Assam 1,050 1,700 Bihar 2,140 2,995 Chandigarh 150 150 Chhattisgarh 1,345 2,105 Dadra & Nagar Haveli 150 177 Delhi 1,422 1,346 Goa 180 200 Gujarat 5,700 7,000 Haryana 1,660 2,185 Himachal Pradesh 920 920 Jammu & Kashmir 1,135 1,385 Jharkhand 780 1,055 Karnataka 9,345 12,194 Kerala 4,105 4,705 Madhya Pradesh 3,585 4,900 Maharashtra 9,000 11,844 Manipur 225 525 Meghalaya 50 150 Mizoram 100 100 Nagaland 0 100 Odisha 1,950 2,675 Puducherry 1,530 1,873 Punjab 1,425 1,699 Rajasthan 4,200 6,279 Sikkim 50 150 Tamil Nadu 8,000 12,000 Telangana 5,240 8,915 Tripura 225 400 Uttar Pradesh 7,428 12,325 Uttarakhand 825 1,350 West Bengal 4,000 5,699 Why do MBBS seats continue to go unfilled? Despite the steady expansion in capacity, several systemic and structural factors contribute to the underutilisation of available undergraduate medical seats: High cost of private medical education: While government colleges remain highly sought-after, a large number of candidates find private options financially out of reach. For students who miss out on a government seat, the cost barrier becomes a deciding factor. Complex counselling and sudden withdrawals: Complicated state-level counselling procedures, delayed decisions by candidates, and last-minute withdrawals can disrupt the allocation process and leave seats unfilled. Limited support in marginalised regions: Students from rural or underserved areas often face a lack of proper guidance during the admission process, reducing their chances of successfully securing a seat through counselling. Perceived gaps in institutional quality: Many candidates prioritise well-established or high-ranking colleges. As a result, newly established or less popular institutions may see a higher proportion of vacant seats despite having the required infrastructure. What steps is the government taking? According to the Ministry, the government is implementing multiple strategies to further boost the number of seats while maintaining educational standards. Centrally sponsored scheme: A key initiative involves converting district and referral hospitals into medical colleges. So far, 157 medical colleges have been approved under this scheme, and 131 are already operational. These efforts are targeted particularly at underserved and aspirational districts. Capacity building in existing colleges: Another central scheme is focused on expanding infrastructure in existing state and central government medical colleges. This is aimed at increasing both MBBS and postgraduate (PG) seat capacity. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY): As part of this scheme, 75 government medical colleges are being upgraded through the addition of Super Speciality Blocks. Of these, 71 projects have been completed. Expansion of AIIMS: Under the central sector scheme, 22 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been approved. Undergraduate courses have already begun in 19 of them. The steady increase in MBBS seats points to the government's sustained focus on expanding healthcare education. However, the persistence of vacant seats, even with the rising capacity, raises questions about admission processes, affordability, regional distribution of institutions, and the preparedness of students to meet eligibility criteria. As infrastructure improves and access broadens, the next steps may lie in addressing why seats are left vacant even when the demand for medical education remains high. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
India Today
02-08-2025
- Health
- India Today
2,849 MBBS seats went vacant in 2024 despite 39% rise in seats since 2020: Centre
India has seen a 39% jump in MBBS seats over the past four years—from 83,275 in 2020–21 to 1,15,900 in 2024–25. But the worrying bit? Thousands of seats are still going vacant each 2024–25 alone, 2,849 undergraduate medical seats remained unfilled, as per data presented in Parliament by Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel on August biggest spike in vacancies was recorded in 2022–23, when 4,146 seats (excluding AIIMS and JIPMER) went unclaimed. Since then, the number has dropped but hasn't YearVacant UG Seats2021–222,0122022–234,1462023–242,9592024–252,849WHICH STATES LEAD IN MBBS SEATS?Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat are among the top states contributing the most MBBS states led both in 2020–21 and 2024–25. For instance, UP's seat count jumped from 7,428 to 12,325 and Tamil Nadu's from 8,000 to 12, a look at MBBS seat growth across states: Seats2024–25 Seats1Andaman & Nicobar1001142Andhra Pradesh5,2106,5853Arunachal Pradesh501004Assam1,0501,7005Bihar2,1402,9956Chandigarh1501507Chhattisgarh1,3452,1058Dadra & Nagar Haveli1501779Delhi1,4221,34610Goa18020011Gujarat5,7007,00012Haryana1,6602,18513Himachal Pradesh92092014Jammu & Kashmir1,1351,38515Jharkhand7801,05516Karnataka9,34512,19417Kerala4,1054,70518Madhya Pradesh3,5854,90019Maharashtra9,00011,84420Manipur22552521Meghalaya5015022Mizoram10010023Nagaland010024Odisha1,9502,67525Puducherry1,5301,87326Punjab1,4251,69927Rajasthan4,2006,27928Sikkim5015029Tamil Nadu8,00012,00030Telangana5,2408,91531Tripura22540032Uttar Pradesh7,42812,32533Uttarakhand8251,35034West Bengal4,0005,699WHAT'S DRIVING THIS GROWTH?The government has been pushing hard to improve medical education across India. New medical colleges have come up in underserved areas, many under a centrally sponsored scheme. Of the 157 new colleges approved, 131 are already National Medical Commission (NMC) also introduced the Minimum Standard Requirement Regulations in 2023. These rules ensure new colleges meet minimum infrastructure, faculty, and clinical benchmarks before getting the green new institutions, older state and central medical colleges are being upgraded to increase MBBS and postgraduate intake. The aim is clear: meet India's growing need for qualified doctors — but also make sure no seat goes to waste.- Ends advertisement
News18
01-08-2025
- Health
- News18
39% Rise In MBBS Seats Since 2020, 2,849 Remained Vacant In 2024: Govt Data
Last Updated: Despite a 39% increase in MBBS seats since 2020, 2,849 undergraduate medical seats remained vacant in 2024, government data presented in the Lok Sabha has revealed. Even as India has seen a significant 39 percent rise in MBBS seats over the past four years, a substantial number of undergraduate medical seats continue to remain vacant, according to data shared by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The information was presented in the Lok Sabha on August 1 by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, in response to an unstarred question raised by Telugu Desam Party MP Putta Mahesh Kumar. Academic Year Vacant UG Seats 2021–22 2,012 2022–23 4,146 2023–24 2,959 2024–25 2,849 The data reveals that MBBS seats increased from 83,275 in the academic year 2020–21 to 1,15,900 in 2024–25. Despite this expansion, 4,146 undergraduate seats (excluding AIIMS and JIPMER) went unfilled in 2022–23 — the highest in recent years. While the number of vacant seats dropped to 2,849 in 2024–25, the gap continues to be a concern. The government attributed the sharp rise in seats to the establishment of new medical colleges and enhancements in infrastructure and faculty availability. To maintain academic and training standards, the NMC has implemented the Minimum Standard Requirement Regulations, 2023. These regulations lay down essential benchmarks for infrastructure, clinical material, faculty strength, and other requirements for setting up and operating medical colleges. Government figures also indicated that states like Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat lead in the number of MBBS seats in both 2020–21 and 2024–25, contributing significantly to the national tally. Below is the data on MBBS seat expansion across Indian states and Union Territories: In the Lok Sabha, the government outlined several initiatives aimed at expanding medical education and increasing the number of MBBS and postgraduate seats across the country. As per official data, under the centrally sponsored scheme for establishing new medical colleges, district and referral hospitals—especially in underserved and aspirational districts—are being upgraded. Out of the 157 medical colleges approved under this scheme, 131 are already operational. Additionally, a separate centrally sponsored scheme is in progress to strengthen the infrastructure of existing state and central government medical colleges. This initiative is focused on expanding the intake capacity for both MBBS and PG courses. top videos View all Further, under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), the government is upgrading medical colleges by constructing Super Speciality Blocks. Of the 75 projects approved under this initiative, 71 have been completed. In parallel, efforts to expand the AIIMS network continue under a central sector scheme. A total of 22 new AIIMS have been approved so far, with undergraduate courses already underway in 19 of them. About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ...Read More Stay updated with the latest education! Get real-time updates on board exam results 2025, entrance exams such as JEE Mains, Advanced, NEET, and more. Find out top schools, colleges, courses and more. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : MBBS neet view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 01, 2025, 15:49 IST News education-career 39% Rise In MBBS Seats Since 2020, 2,849 Remained Vacant In 2024: Govt Data Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
01-08-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Despite increase in MBBS seats, 2,849 remained vacant in 2024: Govt data
Despite a significant 39 per cent increase in MBBS seats over the past few years, a considerable number of undergraduate medical seats remain vacant across India, data from the National Medical Commission (NMC) reveals. The data was presented in the Lok Sabha on August 1 by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The unstarred question was asked by a member of the Telugu Desam Party, Putta Mahesh Kumar. The number of MBBS seats rose from 83,275 in 2020–21 to 1,15,900 by 2024–25; however, the number of vacant UG seats (excluding AIIMS and JIPMER) peaked at 4,146 in 2022–23, before witnessing a gradual decline to 2,849 in 2024–25. The government attributes this expansion to the establishment of new medical colleges and improvements in infrastructure and faculty availability. To ensure quality, the Minimum Standard Requirement Regulations, 2023, have been introduced by NMC. These regulations outline essential standards regarding infrastructure, clinical materials, faculty, and necessary facilities required for establishing and maintaining medical colleges. The government data also showed the number of medical seats in India across the country in 2020-21 and 2024-25. UP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat top the list. In the Lok Sabha, the government has also mentioned the steps they have taken to increase the medical seats in colleges and institutes in the country. As mentioned in the data, under the centrally sponsored scheme for establishing new medical colleges, district and referral hospitals are being upgraded, particularly in underserved and aspirational districts. Out of the 157 approved medical colleges under this scheme, 131 are already functional. In addition, efforts are underway to enhance the capacity of existing state and central government medical colleges through a separate centrally sponsored scheme. This aims at strengthening infrastructure and increasing the number of MBBS and postgraduate (PG) seats. Furthermore, under the upgradation of the government medical colleges by the construction of Super Speciality Blocks as part of the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), 75 projects have been approved, of which 71 have been completed. Under the central sector scheme for establishing new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 22 AIIMS have been approved, and undergraduate courses have already commenced in 19 of them.
