India May See 8,000 More Medical Seats This Year: NMC Chief Dr Abhijat Sheth Speaks on Expansion, Quality, and NExT
India’s medical education sector is set for a significant expansion this academic year, with the National Medical Commission (NMC) expecting an increase of nearly 8,000 undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) seats. NMC chief Dr Abhijat Sheth confirmed that inspections and assessments of medical colleges are underway to finalize the numbers. The Commission is also focusing on reforms in accreditation, quality standards, and the much-debated National Exit Test (NExT).
Medical Seat Expansion Underway
Currently, India has 1,18,098 MBBS seats — 59,782 in government colleges and 58,316 in private institutions. At the postgraduate level, there are 53,960 seats, with 30,029 in government and 23,931 in private colleges.
Dr Sheth stated that while there may have been a temporary dip in UG seats due to recent regulatory hurdles, the overall trend is upward.
“We expect an increase of roughly 8,000 seats (UG and PG seats combined) based on the number of applications we have received this academic year,” he said.
Counselling for NEET-UG 2025 has already begun, with the first round completed and the second round scheduled for August 25. PG counselling is expected in September after the completion of inspections to approve new seats.
Corruption Scandal Stalls Process
The expansion plans faced a setback in July 2025 when the CBI unearthed a corruption network involving health ministry officials, NMC members, private college representatives, and intermediaries.
The FIR named 34 individuals, including:
- Eight officials from the Union Health Ministry
- One National Health Authority official
- Five doctors from the NMC inspection team
The accused were allegedly involved in unlawfully manipulating regulations governing medical colleges. Following the scandal, the NMC temporarily suspended seat increases and new course approvals.
Dr Sheth emphasized that despite these disruptions, inspections have resumed as a priority, ensuring seat expansion will move forward this year.
The Controversial NExT Exam
One of the most debated reforms in medical education has been the National Exit Test (NExT), designed to replace final-year MBBS exams, serve as a licensing exam, and act as the entrance test for PG courses.
Dr Sheth described NExT as a “novel concept” but admitted that several unresolved issues need attention before rollout:
- Transition from state-level exams to a central model – How will universities shift to NExT uniformly?
- Difficulty level – What standard will be set, and how will it compare with existing exams?
- Perception management – How can we, as students and faculty, ensure the exam is fair and not excessively difficult?
“We need consensus among all stakeholders. Students’ concerns must be addressed, fear has to be allayed, and confidence must be built. Till then, it will take a while to implement,” Dr Sheth said.
While the Ministry of Health has been working on NExT for years, Dr Sheth stressed that acceptance by students and institutions is critical for its success.
Balancing Expansion with Quality
India has seen a rapid increase in medical colleges since 2014, raising concerns about whether quality is compromised in the race for numbers.
Dr Sheth acknowledged the dual challenge:
The number of medical colleges and the quality of education are equally important. Expansion is needed for uniform healthcare delivery, but we must ensure quality isn’t diluted.”
To address this, the NMC is:
- Strengthening accreditation standards – mandating faculty, infrastructure, and clinical material requirements.
- Promoting “phydigital” education – a blended model combining physical training, skills-based learning, virtual modules, and e-learning.
- Encouraging competency-based training to standardize outcomes across institutions.
Integration of Resources
A key part of NMC’s strategy is integrating government and private hospitals to utilize clinical resources better.
Dr Sheth explained that both sectors have vast untapped material that could benefit medical education if systematically shared.
“Integration is critical. By tapping resources across institutions, we want to ensure better student clinical exposure.”
This approach aims to enhance practical training and bridge gaps between different types of colleges.
Focus on Innovation and Implementation
The NMC pushes reforms under three guiding principles — innovation, integration, and implementation.
- Innovation: Supporting new educational models, competency-based assessments, and adopting digital learning tools.
- Integration: Leveraging resources across hospitals and institutions for a richer learning environment.
- Implementation: Ensuring reforms translate into fundamental, on-ground changes for medical students and faculty.
Dr Sheth emphasized that the Commission is committed to supporting innovative solutions while maintaining regulatory oversight to ensure consistency nationwide.
Looking Ahead
This year, the expansion of 8,000 new medical seats signals India’s continued effort to strengthen its healthcare system by training more doctors. However, the challenges of ensuring quality education, managing corruption scandals, and rolling out reforms like NExT underline the sector's complexities.
Dr Sheth summed up the NMC’s priorities:
- Transparent and fair accreditation processes
- Balancing quantity with quality
- Building confidence in upcoming reforms
- Using technology and integration to create a uniform learning environment
As India navigates these reforms, students, institutions, and policymakers alike await clarity on how to achieve the balance between expansion and excellence.
