India set to get more doctors than it would’ve normally got

India’s medical education regulator has decided to keep the door open for
higher MBBS admissions, extending a temporary relaxation in intake norms for existing medical colleges into the 2026–27 academic year.

The move is aimed squarely at accelerating the supply of doctors at a time when healthcare systems across the country continue to feel the strain of shortages.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has allowed colleges to admit more students than previously permitted, provided they meet the required benchmarks for quality and capacity.

Cap on seats remains on hold for 2024–25

For the current admission cycle, 2024–25, the regulator has continued to keep in abeyance a rule that had effectively capped MBBS intake at 150 seats per college. That provision had tied any expansion in seats to a population-based norm of 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh people, a formula that limited growth even in well-equipped institutions.

By suspending this linkage, the NMC has once again given colleges greater flexibility to expand intake, particularly in regions where infrastructure exists but earlier norms restricted admissions.

Room to grow—if colleges make the cut

The relaxation does not amount to a free-for-all. Only eligible medical colleges can apply for an increase in MBBS seats, and approvals remain contingent on strict compliance with prescribed standards. Institutions must demonstrate adequate faculty strength, sufficient infrastructure, and a robust clinical workload to support additional students.

Officials say this approach is meant to strike a balance, boosting numbers without compromising the quality of medical training.

The extension of relaxed norms reflects the government’s broader push to increase the number of trained doctors in the country. India has steadily expanded medical education capacity in recent years, but demand continues to outpace supply, especially in public health facilities and rural areas.

By allowing existing colleges to scale up faster, policymakers hope to plug gaps more quickly than would be possible by relying solely on the creation of new institutions.

For MBBS aspirants, the decision could translate into more seats and slightly improved chances of securing admission, particularly in established colleges that were earlier constrained by intake limits. However, competition is expected to remain intense.