Medical Seats to Increase by 8,000 in NEET UG, PG Counselling

• NMC expects ~8,000 new UG and PG seats this year.
• CBI probe halts new course approvals amid corruption allegations.
• NExT exam rollout delayed; focus on quality, digital learning.

The count of undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) medical seats in India is anticipated to increase by approximately 8,000 this academic year. Dr. Abhijat Sheth, Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC), stated that the evaluation procedure for creating additional medical colleges is in progress.

In a conversation with the news agency PTI, Dr. Sheth revealed that the CBI probe aims to expose a corruption network that includes officials from the Union Health Ministry, NMC, intermediaries, and private medical colleges. NMC has put a temporary stop to the approvals for new courses and seats.

With the NEET UG counselling in progress, fears have arisen regarding a potential decrease in available medical seats following the CBI naming 34 people in its inquiry, which includes health ministry personnel, NMC inspectors, and private sector officials.

Dr. Sheth stated that following his appointment and that of the MARB president, inspections of undergraduate medical seats have restarted. According to existing applications, approximately 8,000 new UG and PG seats are anticipated to be incorporated.

At present, there are 1,18,098 undergraduate seats (59,782 in government and 58,316 in private) and 53,960 postgraduate seats (30,029 in government and 23,931 in private)

Concerning the National Exit Test (NExT) for final-year MBBS students, Dr. Sheth described it as a novel concept but noted that its execution will require time. He emphasized the significance of reaching agreement among all parties involved and tackling student issues.

Also Read: Delhi HC Quashes Grace Marks for NEET Candidates, Cites Risks

Main concerns involve shifting from a state-level to a national exam framework, establishing difficulty standards, and fostering a favorable view among students and faculty. He highlighted that although NExT holds potential, it ought to be implemented only after thorough preparation and communication to alleviate student concerns.

Dr. Sheth expressed worries regarding the swift rise in medical colleges since 2014 and how it affects the standard of education. He emphasized that although expansion is crucial for enhancing healthcare accessibility, preserving quality is just as vital. The NMC aims to enhance accreditation standards to guarantee that faculty, facilities, and clinical experience fulfill basic requirements.

He also discussed the launch of a "phydigital" model—merging physical and digital education, featuring virtual resources and competency-focused training—to enhance medical training.