NMC Approves 26 New Medical Colleges in India in 2024 | 1,12,112 MBBS Seats

 

 

In a significant development, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced the approval of only 26 new medical colleges across India out of 113 applications received. This decision has far-reaching implications for NEET UG aspirants and the country's overall medical counselling and admission landscape. The remaining 87 applications for new medical colleges were rejected, resulting in a much lower addition of MBBS seats than initially anticipated.

 

 

Drastic Reduction in New Medical Colleges & MBBS Seats

 

 

The approval of just 26 new medical colleges means that only 3124 new MBBS seats will be added this year. This is a drastic reduction from the earlier expectation of 14,000-20,000 new MBBS seats across the earlier expected 113 new medical colleges. This reduction will impact the competitive landscape of NEET counselling for aspiring doctors.

 

Some of the colleges whose applications were rejected have requested a review by the Appeal Committee of the NMC. There is a possibility that a few more new medical colleges may receive approval in the coming weeks if their appeals are considered favorably. However, the process and outcome of these appeals remain uncertain at this point and are subject to the NMC’s directive.

 

 

NMC’s Clarification on the Earlier Expected 113 New Medical Colleges

 

 

In light of circulating misinformation, the National Medical Commission, NMC, has issued an official notification to clarify the situation. The commission warned medical aspirants and the general public about a fake notice being circulated on social media regarding the establishment of new medical colleges for the academic year 2024-25. 

 

The NMC emphasized that the list published includes only those applications for new medical colleges, which the Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) has made final decisions, which could be either approval or disapproval.

 

The official notification on the NMC website states, "In reference to MARB's public notice dated 6th July 2024, it has been observed that some fake news published/aired in print/electronic media states that the Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) in its final decision has taken on 113 applications for new medical colleges for the academic year 2024-25." Interested candidates can read the official Medical Assessment & Rating Board Notice here. 

 

The NMC has urged students and other stakeholders to rely only on the official website for authentic information on the addition of new medical colleges. The commission stated, "The NMC, in its Public Notice dated 6th July 2024, has published only the list of applications against which the final decisions have been taken by the MARB.

 

 

The final decision does not mean approval with respect to all 113 applications for new medical colleges. The decision may be either approved or disapproved. Such decisions have already been communicated to the medical institutions concerned. The decisions will be uploaded to NMC's website in due course."

 

The NMC further assured that it believes in promoting transparency in letter and spirit. It urged all stakeholders and the general public to ignore any misleading or baseless news published in print or electronic media.

 

Also Read: Karnataka to Gain 350 MBBS seats as NMC approves 3 New Medical Colleges

New Medical Colleges & Remarkable Increase of MBBS Seats in India

The latest update shows 1,12,112 MBBS seats in India across 731 medical colleges. This figure represents a remarkable 118% increase from 2014, when only 51,348 MBBS seats were available. MBBS seats in India have steadily increased within the last four years. From 83,417 MBBS seats in 2020 to 98,682 in 2022 and 1,08,988 total seats in 2023, this marks a 34.39% total increase to the current number of MBBS seats in India, at 1,12,112.

The growth in the number of MBBS seats in India is a testament to the government's commitment to improving medical education and accessibility. This expansion is particularly significant for students gearing up for the NEET 2024 exam, increasing their chances of securing a seat in a reputable medical institution.

Implications on NEET Counselling and MBBS Seats in India

 

 

The drastic reduction in the number of approved new medical colleges has several implications for medical aspirants. With fewer new MBBS seats available, the competition for existing seats is likely to intensify. Aspiring medical students will need to prepare more rigorously to secure admission into the limited seats available.

 

Furthermore, the limited addition of new medical colleges means that the geographic distribution of medical education opportunities may remain uneven. This could perpetuate existing disparities in access to medical education across different regions of the country.

The number of postgraduate medical seats has grown substantially, increasing 133% since 2014. Currently, 72,627 PG medical seats are available, up from 31,185 seats in 2014. This increase is vital for medical graduates seeking to specialize and advance their careers.