Assam CM hails NMC’s 13,186 new MBBS seats, says medical education expansion major boost

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the NMC’s approval of 13,186 additional MBBS seats, taking India’s total undergraduate medical intake to 1,40,214 across 836 colleges for 2026-27. He said the expansion will boost medical education, healthcare capacity and opportunities 

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday lauded the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) approval of 13,186 additional MBBS seats across the country, describing the expansion as a significant boost to medical education and healthcare capacity in India.

CM Sarma welcomed the development in a post on X, highlighting the importance of expanding opportunities for students aspiring to pursue medical education and strengthening the country’s pool of trained doctors. The latest expansion has pushed India’s total MBBS intake to more than 1.4 lakh seats for the 2026-27 academic session.

---

According to the latest NMC data, the total number of undergraduate medical seats has risen to 1,40,214 across 836 medical colleges, excluding seats at Institutes of National Importance. The increase represents a substantial expansion in medical education capacity at a time when demand for MBBS seats remains high among students appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG).

The additional seats have been approved across union territories and several states, with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Bihar among those registering some of the largest increases. For Assam and the Northeast, the expansion assumes added significance as the region continues to strengthen its medical education and healthcare infrastructure.

The state has witnessed a steady expansion of medical colleges and health facilities in recent years, with the government seeking to improve access to specialised healthcare while creating more opportunities for students within the region. The national increase in MBBS seats is also expected to help address the growing requirement for qualified medical professionals as India’s healthcare infrastructure expands.

The NMC’s latest decision comes after an earlier addition of thousands of MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic year, taking the country’s overall medical education capacity to a new high. The Centre and the NMC have in recent years focused on expanding medical education infrastructure, increasing undergraduate and postgraduate seats and establishing new medical colleges.

The latest expansion is expected to provide thousands of additional opportunities to NEET-UG aspirants and further strengthen India’s medical education ecosystem. CM Sarma’s reaction comes as Assam continues to position the expansion of healthcare and medical education as an important component of its development agenda.