New Delhi, October 25, 2025: Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda has highlighted the country’s remarkable progress in medical education, announcing that India now has 819 medical colleges.
Speaking at the 50th Convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Nadda said that the number of undergraduate medical seats in the country has surged from 51,000 to 1.29 lakh, while postgraduate seats have risen to nearly 78,000.
The Minister emphasized that AIIMS has established itself as a leader in medical education, research, and patient care, playing a crucial role in advancing healthcare excellence and training the next generation of doctors and specialists across the nation.
However, despite this impressive expansion, India continues to lag behind in terms of doctor-patient ratio, rural healthcare access, and infrastructure quality. Many medical graduates prefer urban or private practice due to poor working conditions and limited facilities in rural areas.
Shortages of specialist doctors, inadequate public health funding, and gaps in medical research and innovation remain major challenges.
Experts stress that while increasing medical colleges and seats is vital, improving quality of education, strengthening primary healthcare, and equitable distribution of medical professionals are essential for truly transforming India’s healthcare landscape.
