10,000 more MBBS seats in India

The government Thursday approved a proposal to increase the number of MBBS seats in the country by 10,000 by upgrading existing state and central government medical colleges.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the health ministry's proposal related to the centrally-sponsored scheme for upgradation of existing state government/central government medical colleges to increase the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) seats.

This will result in an increase of about 10,000 seats at a total cost of Rs.100 billion, with a proposed central assistance share of Rs.75 billion and state/union territory share of Rs.25 billion.

The funding pattern will be 90:10 by central and state governments, respectively, for north eastern states and special category states, and in the ratio of 70:30 for other states, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters here.