C’garh likely to see a rise of 200 MBBS seats
| Date :13-Apr-2025 |
By Amlan Sinha
Raipur
Medical aspirants in Chhattisgarh may soon have more opportunities for admission as the state is expected to see an increase of 200 to 250 MBBS seats starting from the academic session 2025–26.
This development follows the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s recent announcement of increasing over 40,000 MBBS seats nationwide. The expansion could also include the establishment of a new medical college in the state.
In the 2024–25 academic session, Chhattisgarh saw the launch of two new medical colleges: Abhishek I Mishra Memorial Medical College and Research Centre in Bhilai Nagar and Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Raipur.
According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), as of March 2025, the state has a total of 16 medical colleges offering 2,255 MBBS seats. Of these institutions, one is a centrally-run institute (AIIMS), ten are state government-run, three operate under societies, and one each is managed by a trust and a private organization.
Chhattisgarh’s journey in medical education has been significant — from just two medical colleges with a combined intake of 250 MBBS seats to 16
institutions with over 2,200 seats. However, medical experts have raised concerns about the growing gap between quantity and quality. Medical educationists caution that the rapid increase in institutions and intake may compromise educational standards. “With funds, infrastructure and laboratory facilities can be developed. But what about faculties?” said Dr. Debjyoti Singharoy, medical educationist and pathology faculty at a government medical college. “Without highly qualified faculty — MD/MS holders for teaching roles and DM/MCh degree holders for dean and HoD positions — this expansion may come at the cost of quality. If we compromise at the foundational stage of making a doctor, it will have long-term repercussions.” He further added that while constructing buildings is achievable in a short span, nurturing skilled medical educators takes at least a decade.
The gap, he noted, can only be bridged if the sector effectively utilizes its existing talent pool. Several institutions, especially those established post-2013, reportedly face a shortage of faculty, inadequate laboratory infrastructure, and other essential facilities — all of which are required to meet the NMC’s quality benchmarks. Dr P.K. Patra, Vice Chancellor of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay Memorial Health Sciences and Ayush University of Chhattisgarh, said he could not comment directly on seat expansion. However, he confirmed that there is a possibility of increased MBBS admissions across the state from the 2025–26 academic session. He also mentioned that, if plans proceed smoothly, a new medical college might be established on the university premises. As Chhattisgarh steps up its efforts to boost medical education, experts emphasize the need for a balanced approach — one that ensures both access and academic excellence.
MBBS Seats in Chhattisgarh: Government: 1555, Society: 450, Trust: 150, Private: 100
