The number of undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats in India may rise by nearly 8,000 in the current academic session, according to Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC). The final figure will depend on inspections and the volume of applications received, which are currently being processed across several medical institutions nationwide.

The development comes at a critical time, as counselling for NEET-UG has already begun. The first round has been completed, with the second round scheduled for August 25. For postgraduate admissions, Dr Sheth confirmed that inspections of colleges seeking additional seats are ongoing and that new PG seats are expected to be added during the September counselling round.

CBI Probe Temporarily Halted Approvals

Earlier this year, a CBI investigation unearthed an alleged nexus involving Health Ministry officials, NMC members, private medical college representatives, and intermediaries accused of manipulating the seat allocation and accreditation process. Following the revelations in July, the NMC temporarily suspended approvals for new seats and courses, raising fears of a potential drop in seat availability this year.

Despite this, Dr Sheth assured that the overall number of seats will increase once inspections conclude, even though some undergraduate seats may have been cut in the short term due to the investigation.

Currently, India has 1,18,098 MBBS seats — 59,782 in government colleges and 58,316 in private ones. At the postgraduate level, there are 53,960 seats, with 30,029 in government and 23,931 in private institutions.

NExT Exam Still Under Discussion

Addressing ongoing debates around the proposed National Exit Test (NExT), Dr Sheth referred to it as a “novel concept” that will take time to implement. He outlined three primary challenges:

1. Transitioning from state-level exams to a centralised model.

2. Deciding the appropriate difficulty level for the exam.

3. Creating a positive perception among students and faculty.

He reassured aspirants that NExT would be a fair and balanced assessment, not intended to be overly difficult. However, implementation will take time, as stakeholders' concerns and apprehensions must be addressed thoroughly.

Balancing Quantity with Quality

Highlighting the rapid expansion of medical colleges since 2014, Dr Sheth stressed the importance of balancing growth with quality. The NMC is working to strengthen accreditation standards, focusing on infrastructure, faculty availability, and clinical exposure.

To ensure uniformity in training, the commission is promoting a "phydigital" model — a blend of physical classroom teaching and digital learning platforms. This hybrid model aims to create a competency-based, nationwide training system.

Another key focus is the integration of clinical resources across government and private hospitals. By pooling facilities and expertise, students can gain wider clinical exposure and enhanced training opportunities, Dr Sheth noted.

“Innovation, integration, and implementation are the pillars we are focusing on at NMC,” he said, adding that medical education reforms will continue with an emphasis on quality alongside expansion.