New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a major expansion of medical education capacity, including the addition of 5,000 postgraduate seats and 5,023 MBBS seats in government institutions by 2028-29, with a financial implication of Rs 15,034.50 crore.

The Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will strengthen and upgrade state and central government medical colleges, standalone PG institutes and government hospitals. The cost ceiling for creating new seats has been enhanced to Rs 1.5 crore per seat, officials said.

Of the total outlay, Rs 10,303.20 crore will come from the Centre while Rs 4,731.30 crore will be borne by states.

The government said the move would boost the availability of doctors and specialists, improve healthcare access in underserved regions, and enable introduction of new specialties. It is also expected to generate employment opportunities for doctors, faculty, paramedics, researchers and support staff.

The schemes, officials said, will promote balanced regional distribution of healthcare infrastructure, enhance the quality of medical training to global standards, and strengthen the resilience of India's health system.

India currently has 808 medical colleges with a total intake of 1.23 lakh MBBS seats, the highest in the world. Over the last decade, 69,352 MBBS seats and 43,041 PG seats have been added, reflecting a growth of 127 per cent and 143 per cent respectively.

The expansion is expected to bridge gaps in healthcare accessibility, particularly in rural and remote areas, and position India as a hub for affordable healthcare.