New Delhi: India has significantly expanded its medical education capacity, with MBBS seats increasing to 1,28,976 and postgraduate (PG) medical seats rising to 86,360 in the 2025-26 academic year, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Friday.
In a written reply, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda cited data from the National Medical Commission (NMC) showing that MBBS seats increased from 1,09,115 in AY 2023-24 to 1,28,976 in AY 2025-26. During the same period, PG medical seats rose from 31,185 to 86,360.
The government also said India’s doctor-population ratio has improved to 1:778, based on the availability of registered practitioners in both the allopathic and AYUSH systems of medicine.
According to the Indian Medical Register (IMR), the country currently has 15,35,155 registered allopathic doctors, while the AYUSH system has 7,51,768 registered practitioners. Assuming that 80% of practitioners in both systems are actively available for service, the estimated doctor-population ratio stands at one doctor for every 778 people.
The Centre said the increase in medical seats is part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, expand access to medical education and improve the availability of healthcare professionals across the country.
