75,000 medical seats will be added in next five years, announces Nirmala Sitharaman

The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the eighth Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament today, February 1, 2025. During her speech, she announced that Viksit Bharat aims for zero poverty, quality education, and high-quality, affordable, comprehensive healthcare. She also announced that the government will add 10,000 seats in medical colleges and hospitals next year and 75,000 seats will be added in the next 5 years. This decision has been made to expand the nation's healthcare infrastructure.

1.1 lakh UG, PG seats in 10 years

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, ''Our government has added almost 1.1 lakh undergraduate and post-graduate medical education seats in 10 years. In the next year, 10,000 additional seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals towards the goal of adding 75,000 seats in the next five years. Daycare cancer centres will be established in all district hospitals"

Sitharaman proposes to remove TCS on remittances for educational



purposes

Govt has proposed to Remove TCS on Remiiances for EducaRon Purposes, where such remittance is out of a loan taken from a specified financial institution. 

More than one announcement for students

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the capacity of the Indian Institute of Technology in Patna will be expanded as part of a broader initiative to increase capacity among IITs, which includes adding infrastructure to accommodate an additional 6,500 students across five IITs. The government will provide a 10,000 PM Research Fellowship for students in IITs and IISc Bangalore with enhanced financial support. 

She also announced that 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will be set up in the next five years to cultivate scientific temper in young minds. The government will set up five national centres with global expertise for skilling. Besides, the government will launch the Bharatiya Bhasha Pushtak scheme to provide a digital form of Indian language books for schools and higher education.