Indian Government to allow Increase in MBBS Seats

On 30th May 2010 the Union Health Ministry of Indian government announced the increase of MBBS seats in a government medical college from 150 to 250. The government took the decision to overcome the shortage of qualified doctors. The decision will come into effect from the 2011-12 academic sessions. Following the decision, there will be an overall increase of three thousand and seven hundred seats covering the 37 medical colleges inside the country. The decision will also be applicable to private sector. The government has thought of extending the number of seats to ten thousand seats in the upcoming years in a phase wise plan.

In addition to increasing 10,000 postgraduate seats in phases, the Union health ministry has eased rules for medical colleges applying for postgraduate seats. Now the colleges could apply for Post Graduate seats within third year of its set up. Earlier, a college could apply for Post Graduate seats only upon completion of five years of its existence.
Besides, the ministry has asked the state governments to increase the retirement age of the teachers in medical colleges.  At Centre, it is increased to 65 years. However, in majority of states of India, it is still 58 years and in Kerala, it is lowest at 55 years.

Moreover, the ministry is planning to set up one national and eight regional institutes of paramedical sciences.