India’s medical education sector has witnessed significant expansion over the past decade. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that the number of medical colleges has increased from 387 in 2014 to 818 at present.
Along with this growth, Post Graduate (PG) medical seats have expanded from 31,185 to 82,059, marking one of the largest increases in India’s NEET PG training capacity.
NEET PG Seats Rise to 82059
Shri Prataprao Jadhav informed the Rajya Sabha that the capacity for Post Graduate medical education in India has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last decade. PG seats have risen from 31,185 in 2014 to 82,059 currently, reflecting an impressive increase of more than 50,000 seats.
This translates to a 163% rise in PG seats.
The Minister highlighted that this expansion was achieved through the establishment of new medical colleges, addition of new departments, and systematic creation of PG seats in existing medical institutions across the country.
This growth is aimed at strengthening India’s specialist doctor workforce and expanding access to advanced medical education nationwide.
India Doubles Medical Colleges
Medical Colleges in India Increased from 387 to 818. According to the Minister’s reply, India has more than doubled its medical colleges, reflecting rapid infrastructure development and robust policy reforms in the medical education sector.
Medical Colleges Accepting NEET PG (Category-wise Breakdown)
| Category | Number of Colleges |
| Government Medical Colleges | 289 |
| Private Medical Colleges | 223 |
| Deemed Universities | 45 |
| Total (Accepting NEET PG) | 557 |
The remaining colleges include newly approved institutions and colleges in various phases of operational readiness.
Key Benefits of the Expansion
1. Strengthening India’s Specialist Workforce
The rise in PG seats enhances the availability of specialists in fields such as medicine, surgery, anaesthesia, pediatrics, and emerging medical specialties.
2. Enhanced Access to Medical Education
States like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Gujarat have witnessed significant expansion of medical education infrastructure.
3. Progress Toward WHO-Recommended Doctor Ratio
The increase in medical colleges and PG seats improves India’s overall doctor-to-population ratio.
,New government medical colleges enhance tertiary healthcare delivery and expand medical education access in underserved regions.
Impact on NEET PG Aspirants
- The increased number of PG seats may reduce competition marginally in upcoming NEET PG cycles.
- Growth in government colleges improves availability of affordable postgraduate training.
- More private and deemed universities expand overall seat availability, although fee structures differ widely.
The written reply by Union Minister of State Shri Prataprao Jadhav underscores the Government of India’s strong commitment to strengthening the medical education framework. With medical colleges rising from 387 to 818 and PG seats increasing from 31,185 to 82,059, India is moving decisively toward building a larger, more skilled, and more equitable healthcare workforce.