Prime Highlight
- The Union Cabinet has approved Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), adding 5,023 MBBS and 5,000 PG seatsin government medical colleges and institutes across India.
- The initiative aims to expand access to healthcare in underserved areaswhile strengthening India’s medical education and workforce.
Key Facts
- The project has a budget of ₹15,034.50 crore, with the Centre contributing ₹10,303.20 crore and states ₹4,731.30 crore.
- India currently has 808 medical colleges and 1,23,700 MBBS seats, the largest in the world, but still faces doctor shortages in many regions.
Background
The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) on Wednesday. This phase will create 5,023 MBBS seats and 5,000 postgraduate (PG) seats in government medical colleges and standalone institutes across India.
The scheme will introduce new medical specialties and improve the quality of medical education. Officials said the plan will make efficient use of existing infrastructure and expand access to healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The total budget for this phase is ₹15,034.50 crore. The central government will be contributing ₹10,303.20 crore, and states will contribute ₹4,731.30 crore. The cost per seat has been increased to ₹1.50 crore.
The expansion will provide more students with an opportunity to study medicine and employment opportunities to doctors, faculty, paramedics, researchers, and hospital personnel. The scheme will decrease the shortages in healthcare services by hiring more trained specialists and enhancing the medical workforce in India in general.
India currently has 808 medical colleges and 1,23,700 MBBS seats, the largest in the world. Although this has increased, most regions continue to experience doctor shortages. The 22 additional AIIMS institutes associated with PMSSY and the updated faculty recruitment rule will help to meet the requirement of qualified professionals.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) will issue guidelines on the details of the implementation. The government projects that by 2028-29, this expansion will be complete and more students will have the opportunity to train to become doctors, and that healthcare will be of higher quality in all areas.
This project is the long-term scheme of the government to empower medical education, enhance healthcare services, and ensure trained doctors throughout India.
