3 weeks ago
India Has 86,360 PG Medical Seats; Karnataka Leads; 5,000 More
India wants more specialist doctors, so the government is creating more study seats for them.
Right now, there are 86,360 postgraduate medical seats across India.
These are seats where doctors study further after finishing basic medical school.
Karnataka has the most seats — more than 10,000 — followed by Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
The Health Minister told Parliament about these numbers on Friday.
The government has approved a plan to add 5,000 more seats over the next few years.
Each new seat could cost up to Rs 1.50 crore, so a cost limit has been set.
Before medical colleges get new seats, they must show they have qualified teachers, buildings, and proper clinical facilities.
Fees for National Board courses are the same everywhere in India at Rs 1.25 lakh per year.
The exam for these seats, NEET PG, will happen on August 30, 2026, and students can correct their exam details between July 31 and August 10.
India has 86,360 postgraduate medical seats for the 2026-27 academic year, approved by the NMC and NBEMS.
Karnataka leads with 10,092 seats (2,805 government, 7,287 private), followed by Maharashtra with 9,216 and Tamil Nadu with 8,023.
The Centre approved Phase III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme to add 5,000 postgraduate medical seats between 2025-26 and 2028-29 at a cost ceiling of Rs 1.50 crore per seat.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda shared the data in the Lok Sabha in response to a starred question on expanding postgraduate medical education.
NEET PG 2026 is scheduled for August 30, 2026, with the selective edit window open from July 31 to August 10, 2026.
- Who
- Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, responding in the Lok Sabha to a starred question raised by MP Km Sudha R; data from the NMC and NBEMS.
- What
- India has 86,360 postgraduate medical seats for the 2026-27 academic year, with Karnataka leading, and the Centre approved 5,000 additional seats by 2028-29.
- Where
- India, in the Lok Sabha.
- When
- Data was shared in Parliament on Friday; NEET PG 2026 is scheduled for August 30, 2026.
- Why
- To expand postgraduate medical education capacity and address the shortage of specialist doctors.
Key facts
- Total PG medical seats
- 86,360 (2026-27 academic year)
- Leading state
- Karnataka – 10,092 seats (2,805 government, 7,287 private)
- Other top states
- Maharashtra (9,216), Tamil Nadu (8,023), Uttar Pradesh (7,437)
- New seats planned
- 5,000 between 2025-26 and 2028-29
- Cost ceiling per seat
- Rs 1.50 crore
- NBEMS annual course fee
- Rs 1.25 lakh, uniform across India
- NEET PG 2026 exam date
- August 30, 2026
- Selective edit window
- July 31 to August 10, 2026
Sources
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