Chandigarh Seeks increase of MBBS Seats from 150 to 200 seats at GMCH 32
Chandigarh: In a move to bolster medical education and healthcare capacity, the Chandigarh administration has submitted a detailed proposal to the National Medical Commission seeking an increase in MBBS intake from 150 to 200 seats at the Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32.
Officials stated that the proposal was forwarded after securing the necessary approval from Gulab Chand Kataria, Punjab governor and UT administrator, following multiple rounds of discussions assessing feasibility, need, and broader advantages of the expansion, reports a daily.
The health department also cited a 2025 ruling of the Supreme Court of India, which mandates 27% reservation for the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Authorities indicated that the proposal highlighted the necessity of increasing MBBS seats to ensure effective implementation of the judgment in Dhruvi Yadav vs Union of India. The increase in MBBS seats will help to implement the necessary reservation"without much affecting general category seats." thus initiating a balance between public expectations and mandatory norms.
According to officials, the health department has communicated with the central govt to the increase in MBBS seats was essential to ensure smooth compliance with the Supreme Court judgment in Dhruvi Yadav vs Union of India, delivered in July 2025.
According to Times of India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also informed the UT that for the smooth running of emergency and patient care services, increasing MBBS seats will be a good strategy, as it will ensure a sufficient number of medical interns. Ensuring a sufficient number of interns are also important to manage rising patient load in GMCH, especially in emergency and trauma units. Moreover, an increase in MBBS seats will by extension ensure an increase in the number of medical aspirants for PG programmes, thus ensuring the availability of specialists.
The administration also informed the central govt that all the requirements mandatory for such expansion, including faculty strength, infrastructure, and clinical material has been taken care of by the GMCH. It has a hospital with 1,198 beds, including emergency and trauma beds, adhering to the norms of the Medical Council of India.
Moreover, the Chandigarh administration also submitted an undertaking stating that in case of any inconsistencies, including infrastructural problems, if the central government stops any admission, the state govt bear the responsibility of the students who have already taken admission, subject to necessary permission from the Centre.
Additionally, talks are underway to boost MD seats at GMCH, with officials saying the plan to add around 50 seats is nearing completion. The proposal is being finalized with Panjab University and will be sent to the Administrator for approval before going to the central government. It's likely to be submitted by end-March, sources say.
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