Centre puts MBBS seat limit on hold amid Strong opposition from states

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday informed the Rajya Sabha that the National Medical Commission (NMC) has deferred the implementation of its proposed cap on MBBS seats for the academic years 2024–25 and 2025–26.

Responding to a question in the Upper House, Nadda clarified that the NMC, the apex statutory body established by an Act of Parliament to regulate medical education and practice, has put on hold its 2023 directive that sought to limit MBBS seats to 100 per 10 lakh population in each state.

Several southern states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala have already crossed the proposed MBBS seat-to-population ratio, and lawmakers argued that under the new rule these states would no longer be able to open new medical colleges or increase seats. They said imposing such a limit on states that have long invested in strong medical infrastructure would be an unfair penalty, with Tamil Nadu even describing it as an encroachment on state authority and a deterrent to further improving public health systems. Members also warned that the seat limit could stall the establishment of medical colleges in underserved or rural areas, restricting both access to medical education and essential healthcare. Additionally, several state medical-education bodies expressed concern that the decision had been taken unilaterally, without adequate consultation with stakeholders.

The minister reiterated that the NMC continues to oversee systemic reforms in medical education while ensuring that states’ needs and national healthcare priorities are taken into account.