Article Today, New Delhi: The dream of becoming a doctor was once a tough journey. But today, MBBS seats have increased sharply across India. Yet, thousands of seats remain vacant year after year. In the 2024–25 academic year alone, 2,849 MBBS seats are unfilled. This has sparked concern among medical education experts and students alike.
Quantity has Increased, Quality has Not
Over the last four years, India expanded its MBBS seat count from 83,275 in 2020–21 to 1,15,900 in 2024–25—an increase of 39 percent. However, this growth has not been matched with adequate infrastructure or teaching staff. As a result, many students are avoiding certain colleges, despite a clear demand for seats.
Why Students Reject these Seats
Students are no longer interested in just obtaining a degree. They seek proper training and practical exposure. Colleges that fail to provide facilities, quality clinical experience, or enough faculty struggle to attract students. In Telangana, for instance, some colleges face severe shortages in both faculty and patient inflow. The de-recognition of Father Colombo Medical College in Warangal is a recent example. Similarly, Mahaveer Medical College faces criticism for poor infrastructure and lack of staff.
A Systemic Gap in the Making
According to central health ministry data, the trend of unfilled MBBS seats is growing. In 2021–22, 2,012 seats remained vacant. The number rose to 4,146 in 2022–23. It slightly decreased to 2,959 in 2023–24 and stood at 2,849 this year. Experts believe that this persistent gap points to deeper flaws in medical education planning and execution.
Strong Rules, Weak Enforcement
In 2023, the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued new guidelines to improve quality. These norms focus on clinical infrastructure, lab equipment, and qualified teaching staff. But while the rules are clear, their implementation has been poor. Critics argue that new colleges are being approved without strict checks. Corruption and irregularities in granting permissions remain a concern. In fact, the CBI has identified cases where bribes were allegedly taken to approve substandard private colleges.
Students Prefer Quality Over Availability
Medical aspirants are increasingly choosing reputed institutions over newer, ill-equipped ones. Despite more colleges opening, many fail to meet expectations. Students are not willing to risk their future on a poor education. The system, experts say, needs to focus not just on expansion, but also on ensuring quality and accountability.
