The National Medical Commission has introduced major reforms to expand medical education capacity by removing key restrictions on MBBS seats across India. Through a notification issued on April 27, 2026, the commission amended its earlier regulations, paving the way for a significant increase in undergraduate medical seats.
One of the most important changes is the removal of the cap that limited medical colleges to 150 MBBS seats for expansion. Institutions can now apply for seat increases without this upper limit, allowing both government and private colleges greater flexibility to meet rising demand.
The NMC has also scrapped the population-based norm that required 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh population. This move is expected to speed up approvals and enable states to expand medical education based on actual healthcare needs rather than fixed ratios.
In addition, the commission has revised rules regarding the distance between medical colleges and teaching hospitals. The earlier 30-minute travel-time rule has been replaced with a maximum distance of 10 km, extended to 15 km for northeastern and hilly regions, making infrastructure planning more practical.
These reforms aim to improve access to medical education and address the shortage of doctors in India. However, experts emphasize that maintaining quality standards in teaching, faculty, and clinical training will be crucial as the number of seats expands.
