MBBS: The availability of medical education and doctors is continuously increasing in the country. The Central Government has informed the Lok Sabha that there has been a good increase in MBBS and Post Graduation medical seats in the last two academic years. Along with this, the doctor-population ratio of the country has also improved to 1:778, which is considered better than the WHO standard of one doctor per 1000 population.
Health Minister JP Nadda made the figures public
In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said that there were 1,09,115 MBBS seats in the academic level 2023-24, which increased to 1,28,976 in 2025-26. During the same period, the number of postgraduate medical seats has increased from 31,185 to 86,360. This data is based on the records of the National Medical Commission. According to the government, the objective of expanding medical education is to increase the number of trained doctors in the country and strengthen health services. Especially in remote areas and those deprived of health facilities, new medical colleges and increase in seats will improve the availability of doctors in future.
One doctor for 778 people
The government also told the Lok Sabha that India’s doctor population ratio is now 1:778. According to the Indian Medical Register, there are 15,35,155 registered allopathic doctors in the country. Apart from this, there are also 7,51,768 registered doctors under the AYUSH system. If 80 percent of the total 22,86,923 registered doctors of both the systems are considered to be available in active service, then the doctor population ratio of the country comes to 1:778. The government says that this ratio is better than the standards of the World Health Organization.
MBBS seats increased again in 2026-27
Meanwhile, the National Medical Council had also released the state-wise MBBS seat matrix for the 2026-27 academic session. According to the new data, 9,911 new MBBS seats were approved this year, which when added with the already renewed 1,27,028 seats, takes the total number of MBBS seats to 1,36,939. These seats will be available in 823 medical colleges across the country. However, institutions of national importance are not included in this list. The government says that the continuous increase in medical colleges and seats is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the health system. Through the new medical college, efforts are being made to increase the availability of doctors, especially in remote and under-equipped areas, so that the common people can get better health services.
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Medical infrastructure increased rapidly after 2014
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel also told in the Lok Sabha that since 2014 till now, the number of medical colleges in the country has increased significantly. During this period, MBBS seats have increased from about 51 thousand to more than 1 lakh 39 thousand, UG medical seats and PG medical seats have increased from 31 to more than 86 thousand. He said that to strengthen health services in rural areas, Family Adoption Program has also been included in the MBBS curriculum. Under this, medical colleges adopt villages and MBBS students get experience of community medicine by connecting with the families of those villages.
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