Number Of Medical Colleges Nearly Doubles To 731 Since 2014, UG Seats Rise By 118%: JP Nadda

Union Health Minister JP Nadda announced that the number of medical colleges in India surged from 387 in 2014 to 731, with undergraduate seats rising by 118% and postgraduate seats by 133%.

New Delhi: Highlighting the NDA government's efforts in bolstering India's health infrastructure, Union Health Minister JP Nadda announced in the Lok Sabha on Monday that the number of medical colleges in the country has surged from 387 in 2014 to 731. This statement was made during the discussion on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's demands for grants for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

"There were 387 medical colleges in the country. The number now stands at 731.” He further detailed that undergraduate medical seats have “increased from 51,348 to 1.12 lakh, marking a 118 percent rise, while postgraduate seats have grown by 133 percent,” Nadda said.

Emphasising the Modi government's focus on healthcare, Nadda highlighted the implementation of the world's largest health scheme under PM Narendra Modi's leadership. He also mentioned that the health budget allocation has seen a significant rise of 164 percent, growing from Rs 33,278 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 90,958 crore.

Nadda noted that prior to the first NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, there was only one AIIMS in India. During Vajpayee's tenure, six AIIMS were established. Over the past decade under PM Modi's administration, 22 more AIIMS have been approved, with 18 currently operational and four under construction.

Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, Nadda reported that “about 12 crore families, or over 55 crore people, have received free treatment facilities up to Rs 5 lakh. Additionally, 1.73 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established.”

The minister also highlighted the scheme’s impact on reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, which have decreased from 62 percent to 47.1 percent, thanks to the provision of free medicines and other health-related services, including testing.

NTA Earns Rs 3,513.98 Crore Since Establishment 

Since its establishment in 2018, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has earned a total of Rs 3,513.98 crore, with 87.2% of that amounting to Rs 3,064.77 crore, being spent on conducting examinations, Education Ministry informed Parliament on Wednesday. The NTA's earnings saw a substantial increase of 78%, rising from ₹490.35 crore in 2021-22 to ₹873.20 crore in 2022-23, largely due to the introduction of the Common University Entrance Test (CUET).

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