India to add 75,000 UG, PG medical seats by 2029: JP Nadda

Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Thursday highlighted India's expansion of medical education and healthcare infrastructure, stating that the country now has 23 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), compared with just one earlier, and 863 medical colleges, up from 387.

Speaking at India Today’s HealthWealth Summit, Nadda said the government was working towards its target of adding 75,000 undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats by 2029, with 45,000 seats already added over the past two years.

Highlighting the expansion of medical education, Nadda said undergraduate medical seats had increased from 51,000 to 1.43 lakh, while postgraduate seats had risen from 31,000 to 86,000.

The minister said the government was on track to meet the target of adding 75,000 more undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats by 2029, as directed by Prime Minister Narendra



Modi.

Nadda said the number of seats had increased by 45,000 over the past two years, expressing confidence that the remaining target would also be achieved. He stressed that the expansion aimed not only to increase seats but also to ensure quality medical education in the country.

Emphasising the government's financial commitment to expanding medical education, Nadda said the Centre had decided to provide Rs 1.5 crore per seat for 10,000 postgraduate medical seats.

"Rs 15,000 crore has been allocated only for these PG seats," he added. The minister stressed that the government's efforts went beyond announcements, with financial resources being committed to increase the availability of medical education opportunities.

He also referred to the expansion of undergraduate and postgraduate seats as part of the broader effort to strengthen the country's medical education system.