
In his 78th Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a significant announcement regarding India’s healthcare education. The PM revealed that the government plans to create 75,000 new medical seats across the country in the next five years. This is in response to the increasing number of Indian students going abroad for medical education due to a shortage of seats domestically.
PM Modi highlighted the government’s success in expanding medical education over the past decade, with nearly 1 lakh medical seats now available, compared to the much lower number previously. As per current figures, India has 106,333 MBBS seats across government and private institutions, with government colleges holding 55,648 of those.
Despite this progress, around 25,000 Indian students still seek medical education abroad every year, which motivated the government to take further steps. The Prime Minister emphasized the financial burden on families as students often spend lakhs of rupees studying abroad. By increasing domestic medical seats, the government aims to reduce this financial strain and provide more opportunities within the country.
The Prime Minister also touched on the broader development goals of his administration, including the establishment of the National Research Foundation. This foundation will promote research and innovation in science and technology across Indian universities, research institutes, and R&D labs. Furthermore, Modi emphasized the importance of internships for youth, stating that the government has allocated ₹1 lakh crore in the budget to support research, innovation, and skill development.
In a significant call to action, PM Modi urged 1 lakh young people to join politics, specifically those from non-political families. He stressed the need to bring fresh perspectives and energy into the political arena to combat the issues of nepotism and casteism, ensuring that opportunities are available to all, regardless of background.
This announcement marks a major step toward addressing the growing demand for medical education in India while simultaneously working to improve research and innovation across various sectors. The commitment to creating 75,000 new medical seats is expected to make a significant impact on the healthcare sector, offering more students the chance to pursue their medical careers within the country.