86,360 PG medical seats in country as per NMC and NBEMS

The question asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide details on the total number of post-graduate (PG) medical seats, the number of seats created since 2014, proposals for expansion, the conversion of DNB seats, and measures to control fees in private institutions.

Asked and answered by: Asked by: Km. Sudha R; Answered by: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda)

What the government said

• Total of 86,360 PG medical seats in the country as per NMC and NBEMS.
• NMC has a regulatory framework (PGMER 2023 & PGMSR 2024) for approving new PG courses based on faculty, infrastructure, and clinical material.
• NBEMS initiatives include easing accreditation criteria, introducing new courses, and encouraging District Hospitals to seek accreditation.
• Government approved Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to increase 5,000 PG seats with a cost ceiling of ₹1.50 crore per seat for FY 2025-26 to 2028-29.
• There is no proposal under NBEMS consideration to convert all Diploma seats into full-fledged PG medical degree (DNB) seats.
• Fees for private medical institutions are regulated by State/UT Governments, though NMC guidelines for 50% of seats are currently sub-judice.
• NBEMS course fees (DNB, DrNB, FNB, Diploma) are centrally regulated, uniform, and set at ₹1,25,000 annually.

Also in the document

• The answer states that NMC guidelines for determining fees in private medical institutions have been challenged in courts and are sub-judice.
• The answer explicitly states there is no proposal to convert all DNB seats into full-fledged PG medical degree seats.
• The answer notes that fee fixation for medical courses generally falls within the domain of State/UT Governments.