BHUBANESWAR: Postgraduate medical education has received a major boost in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, with both states adding hundreds of seats for the 2026-27 academic year. Odisha's total PG medical seats have increased from 620 to 938 following the National Medical Commission's (NMC) approval of 318 additional seats. Andhra Pradesh, meanwhile, has secured 424 more seats, taking its total to 4,196.
In Odisha, the newly approved seats cover 14 medical disciplines, including anatomy, anaesthesiology, general medicine, general surgery, paediatrics, psychiatry and respiratory medicine. According to an official statement, 153 seats have also been sanctioned across five newly established government medical colleges that are set to introduce postgraduate courses.
Allotment of seats in Odisha-
Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital in Keonjhar received 44 seats across ten departments, Pabitra Mohan Pradhan Government Medical College and Hospital in Talcher 32 across ten, Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in Koraput 28 across nine, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati Government Medical College and Hospital in Phulbani 27 across eight, and Government Medical College and Hospital in Sundargarh 22 across eight.
Several existing institutions have also seen their intake rise. At Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada rose from 20 seats to 53. Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital in Balangir from 10 to 54 and Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital in Balasore from 8 to 54.
SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack received 17 additional seats, VIMSAR in Burla 11, PGIMER and Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar 11, and Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer 3.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling said the approval was a significant step for medical education and healthcare in the state, crediting the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
He said 'a new chapter' had been added to Odisha's health and medical education sector.
Allotment of seats in Andhra Pradesh-
In Andhra Pradesh, the 424 seats for 2026-27 are spread across 18 government and 18 private colleges. The government sector added 162 seats to reach 2,077 from 1,915, while private colleges added 262 to reach 2,119 from 1,857.
Government Medical College, Vizianagaram, drew the largest government allocation at 28, and Konaseema Institute of Medical Sciences the largest private share at 59.
Dr NTR University of Health Sciences vice chancellor P. Chandrasekhar thanked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav and the National Medical Commission for backing the expansion, saying more PG seats would allow more graduates to specialise.
Registrar T. Sai Sudheer said the university had compiled details of existing, additional and new seats, that admissions would follow applicable regulations and quota-wise distribution, and advised candidates to consult university notifications for college-wise availability, eligibility and counselling schedules.
(With inputs from media reports)