Lok Sabha Question No. 5710 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Establishment of New Medical and Nursing Colleges
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Shivaji Bandappa Kalge, Shri Gyaneshwar Patil

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5710 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 th MARCH 2026

## ESTABLISHMENT OFNEW MEDICALAND NURSING COLLEGES

## †5710. DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPAKALGE: SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:

## Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether new Medical Colleges or Nursing Colleges are being established in the States of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh with the assistance of the Union Government;

(b) if so, the details thereof and whether all districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have been covered under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY);

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether any new initiatives have been launched by the Government to improve maternal and child health services in these States;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen health infrastructure in the rural areas of these States?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (f): The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare administers a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals' with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. The fund sharing mechanism between the Centre and State Governments is in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States, and 60:40 for others. Under the Scheme, 157 Government Medical Colleges have been approved across the country, including fourteen (14) colleges in Madhya Pradesh and two (02) colleges in Maharashtra.

Further, the Ministry is also implementing a CSS for 'Augmenting Nursing EducationEstablishment of new Colleges of Nursing (CoN) in co-location with Medical Colleges' to establish 157 new nursing colleges. Under the scheme, six (06) and fourteen (14) nursing colleges have been approved in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh respectively.

Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is the world's largest publicly funded health protection scheme which aims to provide health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. The scheme has been implemented in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Public health and hospitals being a State subject, the primary responsibility for strengthening the healthcare system rests with the respective State/UT Governments. However, the Ministry, under the overarching umbrella of the National Health Mission (NHM), supplements the efforts of the States/UTs by implementing various schemes and programmes namely Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) and Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) etc. Under NHM, technical and financial support is provided to all the States/UTs for implementation of these scheme/programms to improve the maternal health services all over the country including in rural area of the State of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The measures/steps taken by the Government to strengthen health infrastructure in the rural areas of the country include: -

- i. CSS for establishment of new medical colleges by upgrading district/ referral hospital with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. Under the Schme, all the envisaged 157 new medical colleges have been approved across the country.
- ii. CSS for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/ Central Government medical colleges to increase the number of MBBS (UG) and PG seats, under which support has been provided for increase of 4977 MBBS seats in 83 colleges with an approved cost of Rs. 5972.20 Cr, 4058 PG seats in phase-I in 72 colleges with an approved cost of Rs. 1498.43 cr and 4000 PG seats in phase-II in 65 colleges with an approved cost of Rs. 4478.25 Cr.
- iii. Also, Cabinet recently approved Phase-III of (CSS) for 'Strengthening and upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges/Standalone PG Institutes/Government Hospitals' to facilitate increase of 5000 PG seats with an enhanced cost ceiling of Rs. 1.5 Crore per seats and extension of existing CSS for UG Scheme for 5023 MBBS seats with a enhanced cost of Rs. 1.5 Crore per seats. The timeline for implementation of both the Scheme is 2028-2029
- iv. Under 'Upgradation of Government medical colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks' component of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), a total of 75 projects have been approved, of which 71 projects are completed.
- v. Under the Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have been started in 19 of these.
- vi. Under Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) supports are provided for i) Strengthening of Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities for early detection of diseases; ii) Addition of new critical care-related beds at district level hospitals; and iii) Integrated district public health laboratories in all districts.

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