Agartala, May 15: In a major boost to medical education and healthcare infrastructure in Tripura, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved ₹273.46 crore for the expansion and upgradation of Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) under a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at increasing MBBS and postgraduate medical seats across the country.
 |
| Agartala Government Medical College to undergo major expansion after the Centre sanctioned ₹273.46 crore to increase MBBS and postgraduate seats in Tripura from the 2026-27 academic session. |
The approval is expected to significantly enhance the state’s capacity to train future doctors and specialists while strengthening healthcare services for the people of Tripura. The project will be implemented from the 2026–27 academic session and will focus on expanding both undergraduate and postgraduate medical education facilities at AGMC.
Announcing the development, Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda for approving the proposal. He described the sanction as a landmark achievement for the state’s healthcare and medical education sectors.
According to the approval issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the sanctioned amount will be utilized for infrastructure development required to increase 100 MBBS seats and 83 postgraduate seats in 19 critical and specialty disciplines. The project falls under the Centre’s schemes for strengthening and upgrading state government medical colleges to increase MBBS and postgraduate intake.
A major component of the project is the expansion of MBBS seats at AGMC from the existing 150 seats to 250 seats, including 15 seats reserved under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category. The approved cost for this component is ₹150 crore, of which the Central Government will bear 90 percent of the expenditure, significantly reducing the financial burden on the state.
The postgraduate seat expansion will cover a wide range of important medical disciplines, including Anaesthesia, General Medicine, General Surgery, Community Medicine, Pathology, Pharmacology, Anatomy, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Respiratory Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), among others. The addition of these seats is expected to address the growing demand for specialist doctors in the state and improve the quality of healthcare services.
ALSO READ: Tripura Govt Introduces Work-From-Home Measures to Reduce Fuel Consumption
Chief Minister Saha stated that the approval marks another major milestone in Tripura’s efforts to strengthen its medical education infrastructure. He noted that the addition of the new seats would increase the state's total MBBS seats to 550 and postgraduate seats to 196, representing the highest growth in medical education capacity achieved in the state within a short period.
“This is a significant achievement for Tripura. We are committed to improving healthcare services for our citizens while creating greater opportunities for students aspiring to pursue medical education within the state,” Dr. Saha said.
Officials noted that increasing the number of medical seats will reduce the need for students to seek admission outside the state and help address the shortage of healthcare professionals in Tripura. The expansion is also expected to strengthen the state's healthcare delivery system by producing more trained doctors and specialists in the coming years.
The approval comes at a time when Tripura has been focusing on expanding healthcare infrastructure, upgrading medical institutions and improving access to quality healthcare services. Over the past few years, the state has witnessed significant investments in medical colleges, hospitals and health-related facilities.
Medical experts have welcomed the decision, stating that the increase in MBBS and postgraduate seats will not only benefit aspiring doctors but also contribute to the long-term strengthening of healthcare services in Tripura and the Northeast region.
With the Centre’s approval now in place, preparations are expected to begin for the implementation of the project, paving the way for a major transformation of Agartala Government Medical College into a larger and more advanced medical education institution capable of meeting the state's growing healthcare needs.
