Telangana becomes medical education hub; MBBS seats in GMCs twice than national average

Hyderabad: Medical aspirants from Telangana are in a better position than the rest of India in securing seats in government medical colleges (GMCs).

Ministry of Education told Lok Sabha that the availability of seats in government medical colleges in Telangana is twice that of the rest of India for 2022-23. It signifies that one in 36 candidates, appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) got a seat in a government medical college in India. One out of 19 candidates who appeared for the NEET exam got a seat in a government medical college in Telangana.

There are 5.25 % seats available in government medical colleges for NEET candidates in Telangana, while the national average is 2.77 %.

The better performance of Telangana has been possible due to an increased number of seats in government medical colleges. The trend continues as every year more medical seats are being added.

According to the state chapter of IMA, a total of 57,124 candidates appeared for NEET in the state in 2022. The seats in government medical colleges for the same period were around 3,000, which means seat availability of 5.25 % in Telangana. At present, there are 24 medical colleges in the government sector in the state.

In contrast, nationwide, a total of 17.64 lakh candidates appeared for the NEET (undergraduate) examination. According to National Medical Commission (NMC) data, admission to Government medical colleges was 48,929, which is 2.77% of the total candidates who appeared (that is 17,64,616).

The total number of candidates who got admission to medical colleges in MBBS in India during 2022-23 is 95,313 students.

Minister’s Reply in the Lok Sabha

Minister of State of Education Dr. Subhas Sarkar said, “In 2022, 17.64 lakh candidates appeared for the NEET (UG) examination. The NMC has informed that out of the total admission of 95,313 students in medical colleges in MBBS in India during 2022-23, admission in government medical colleges was 48,929, which is 2.77% of the total candidates of 17.64 lakh.

National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts NEET (UG) on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare since May 2019, as a uniform entrance -cum-eligibility test for admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS, BDS, etc.) in all medical institutions across the country, as per the norms set out in relevant Graduate Medical Regulations of MCI (currently NMC with effect from September 24, 2020).

`More seats in government colleges will ensure students need not seek admission abroad for medicine’

Commenting on the advantages of having more medical seats in Telangana, Dr M Kiran, anaesthesiologist at Nizamabad Government Hospital and a member of IMA Telangana said, “The merit of medical aspirants across India is the same, but it’s the number of seats in government colleges that make a difference. Many candidates, despite qualifying for the NEET, fail to secure a seat in government colleges and are unable to afford exorbitant fees in private medical colleges. Some of these students opt to study at cheaper cost in countries like Ukraine, Russia, etc. but they have to again qualify for a test in India before getting registration and practicing in the country.”

“Also, in terms of fees in government medical colleges, Telangana ranks third after Bihar and Jharkhand. The tuition fee is around Rs 10,000 per year, whereas to study in a private medical college, a student has to shell out a minimum of Rs 5 lakh annually under merit quota, Rs 11 lakh per year under convener quota, and Rs 25 lakh annually under NRI quota in the state,” added Dr. Kiran.

110 % increase in medical seats in one decade

The minister also informed that the number of MBBS seats in 2013-14 was 51,348 (24,468 in government medical colleges and 26,880 in private medical colleges). For the year 2023-24, the number of MBBS seats in government medical colleges has been increased to 56,283 seats and in private medical colleges to 51,665 seats, making a total of 1,07,948 seats, an increase of 110% over 2013-2014.

Annual increase in budget allocation for education

“The central government has increased its budget allocation of Ministry of Education (MoE) from Rs 93,224.31 crore for the year 2021-22 to Rs 1,04,277.72 crore for the year 2022-23 and to Rs 1,12,899.47 crore for the year 2023-24,” informed the minister.