Aspiring doctors in India have reason to celebrate! The country has witnessed a significant increase in postgraduate (PG) medical seats, with a total of 73,157 seats available for the academic year 2024-2025. This information was revealed by the Ministry of Health in response to a recent inquiry.
Breaking Down the Numbers:
This substantial increase in PG medical seats offers more opportunities for medical graduates to pursue specialization. The breakdown of the available seats is as follows:
- MD/MS: 57,866 seats
- DNB: 11,472 seats
- FNB: 590 seats
- Post MBBS Diploma: 3,229 seats
State-Wise Distribution:
The distribution of these seats varies across states. Karnataka leads the pack with the highest number of PG medical seats (6,906), followed by Maharashtra (6,348) and Tamil Nadu (5,339).
| S.No. | State/UT | Govt. Seats | Pvt.Seats | TotalSeats |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 1979 | 1673 | 3652 |
| 2 | Assam | 742 | 0 | 742 |
| 3 | Bihar | 910 | 446 | 1356 |
| 4 | Chandigarh | 585 | 0 | 607 |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | 479 | 132 | 589 |
| 6 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 7 | Delhi | 2889 | 49 | 2938 |
| 8 | Goa | 149 | 0 | 149 |
| 9 | Gujarat | 2292 | 828 | 3120 |
| 10 | Haryana | 434 | 524 | 958 |
| 11 | Himachal Pradesh | 270 | 92 | 362 |
| 12 | Jammu & Kashmir | 606 | 51 | 657 |
| 13 | Jharkhand | 272 | 0 | 272 |
| 14 | Karnataka | 1983 | 4923 | 6906 |
| 15 | Kerala | 1095 | 911 | 2006 |
| 16 | Madhya Pradesh | 1555 | 1032 | 2587 |
| 17 | Maharashtra | 3615 | 2733 | 6348 |
| 18 | Manipur | 255 | 0 | 255 |
| 19 | Meghalaya | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 20 | Odisha | 736 | 521 | 1257 |
| 21 | Puducherry | 329 | 747 | 1076 |
| 22 | Punjab | 408 | 413 | 821 |
| 23 | Rajasthan | 2311 | 1291 | 3602 |
| 24 | Sikkim | 0 | 34 | 34 |
| 25 | Tamil Nadu | 2803 | 2536 | 5339 |
| 26 | Telangana | 1522 | 1824 | 3346 |
| 27 | Tripura | 89 | 8 | 97 |
| 28 | Uttar Pradesh | 2482 | 2189 | 4671 |
| 29 | Uttarakhand | 1578 | 336 | 1914 |
| 30 | West Bengal | 1793 | 365 | 2158 |
| Total | 34208 | 23658 | 57866* | |
Government vs. Private Colleges:
While the overall number of seats has increased, the distribution between government and private colleges is worth noting. There are 34,208 seats available in government colleges, while private colleges offer 38,949 seats (excluding NBEMS seats).
All India Quota:
The All India Quota system plays a vital role in medical college admissions. It ensures a fair distribution of seats across the country. Here’s how it works:
- 15% of MBBS seats and 50% of PG seats in government colleges are filled through the All India Quota.
- All seats in deemed universities are also filled through this system.
This positive development is not the only good news for aspiring medical professionals. The total number of MBBS seats in India currently stands at 1,18,137. Karnataka holds the top spot for having the highest number of MBBS seats (12,545), while Uttar Pradesh boasts the most medical colleges (86).
Overall Significance:
The significant increase in PG medical seats signifies a crucial step towards strengthening India’s healthcare infrastructure. By providing more opportunities for specialization, this development will equip medical professionals with the necessary skills to address the evolving needs of the population. This ultimately leads to better patient care and a healthier future for India.