Maharashtra Gets Six New Medical Colleges, 2,650 MBBS Seats Added

Each new college will have a 100 to 250-seat capacity, and teaching hospitals will be developed simultaneously. Maharashtra attracts more than 1.5 lakh NEET aspirants every year, competing for around 11,000 government MBBS seats

Maharashtra will soon get six new government medical colleges and 2,650 more MBBS seats after approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC). The move will expand access to medical education and help address the shortage of doctors in rural areas.

The new colleges will come up in Nagpur, Solapur, Washim, Gadchiroli, Buldhana, and Ratnagiri districts. Nagpur and Solapur will get a higher number of seats because of existing hospital capacity and regional demand.

An official from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) said construction work will begin in the next academic session. “Each new college will have a 100 to 250-seat capacity, and teaching hospitals will be developed simultaneously,” the official said.

Experts in the health sector said the decision will not only help local students but also strengthen district-level healthcare. “Every medical college doubles as a tertiary hospital. This expansion means more doctors and better patient care in small towns,” said Dr. Sandeep Kulkarni, a Pune-based medical educator.

With this addition, Maharashtra’s total number of medical colleges will cross 75. The state already attracts more than 1.5 lakh NEET aspirants every year, most competing for around 11,000 government MBBS seats. The new approval brings much-needed relief to students seeking affordable options.

The DMER has also initiated faculty recruitment and equipment procurement. The government said its goal is to begin admissions under the new quota by 2026.