UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — MBBS Seats Increase to 1.29 Lakh, PG Seats Nearly Triple to 86,360 Between AY 2023–24 and AY 2025–26

Q1. Given that PG medical seats stood at 31,185 in AY 2023-24 and 86,360 in AY 2025-26, by approximately how many seats did the PG capacity increase over this period?

  • A. 48,563 seats
  • B. 55,175 seats
  • C. 29,080 seats
  • D. 19,861 seats

Q2. The doctor-population ratio of 1:778 reported for India is arrived at by counting which body of practitioners?

  • A. 80% of registered allopathic practitioners together with 80% of registered AYUSH practitioners
  • B. the entire body of registered allopathic practitioners on the Indian Medical Register only
  • C. registered allopathic, dental and nursing practitioners taken together
  • D. MBBS and PG graduates produced by medical colleges since the year 2014

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding India's doctor-population ratio: 1. At 1:778, India's ratio is better than the WHO benchmark of 1:1000. 2. The 1:778 figure represents an improvement over earlier reported ratios of 1:834 and 1:811. 3. The WHO benchmark of 1:1000 represents the maximum number of doctors per population that a country is permitted to have. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. At 1:778, India's ratio is better than the WHO benchmark of 1:1000.
  2. The 1:778 figure represents an improvement over earlier reported ratios of 1:834 and 1:811.
  3. The WHO benchmark of 1:1000 represents the maximum number of doctors per population that a country is permitted to have.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to how India's doctor-population ratio of 1:778 is computed, consider the following statements: 1. It assumes 80% availability of registered practitioners. 2. It includes registered AYUSH practitioners in the count. 3. The WHO ratio used as the comparison benchmark is 1:1000. 4. It counts only registered allopathic doctors and excludes AYUSH practitioners. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It assumes 80% availability of registered practitioners.
  2. It includes registered AYUSH practitioners in the count.
  3. The WHO ratio used as the comparison benchmark is 1:1000.
  4. It counts only registered allopathic doctors and excludes AYUSH practitioners.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 4 only

Q5. Under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the National Register of licensed medical practitioners is maintained by which of the following bodies?

  • A. The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board
  • B. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board
  • C. The Ethics and Medical Registration Board
  • D. The Post-Graduate Medical Education Board

Q6. Consider the following statements about the National Medical Commission (NMC) and its boards: 1. The NMC replaced the Medical Council of India under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. 2. The National Medical Register of licensed practitioners is maintained by the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board. 3. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board can levy monetary penalties on medical colleges that fail to maintain minimum standards. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The NMC replaced the Medical Council of India under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
  2. The National Medical Register of licensed practitioners is maintained by the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board.
  3. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board can levy monetary penalties on medical colleges that fail to maintain minimum standards.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. With reference to the growth of medical colleges in India, consider the following statements: 1. The number of medical colleges rose from 387 before 2014 to 704, an increase of about 82%. 2. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for new colleges attaches them to existing district/referral hospitals. 3. Under that scheme, funding is shared 60:40 between the Centre and States for general-category states. 4. The 82% growth raised the number of medical colleges from 387 to 818. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The number of medical colleges rose from 387 before 2014 to 704, an increase of about 82%.
  2. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for new colleges attaches them to existing district/referral hospitals.
  3. Under that scheme, funding is shared 60:40 between the Centre and States for general-category states.
  4. The 82% growth raised the number of medical colleges from 387 to 818.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 4 only

Q8. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical colleges attached to existing district/referral hospitals is operationalised by which ministry, and dates to which launch year?

  • A. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; 2014
  • B. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; 2019
  • C. Ministry of Education; 2014
  • D. Ministry of AYUSH; 2020

Q9. According to the reported multi-year trend, how many additional MBBS seats were added in the country between AY 2020-21 and AY 2025-26?

  • A. 29,080 seats
  • B. 19,861 seats
  • C. 48,563 seats
  • D. 55,175 seats

Q10. The statutory body that regulates undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and reports the multi-year seat-expansion data was established under which of the following statutes?

  • A. The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956
  • B. The National Medical Commission Act, 2019
  • C. The Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010
  • D. The Indian Medical Degrees Act, 1916

Q11. Consider the following statements about the Cabinet-approved Phase-III Centrally Sponsored Scheme (2025-26 to 2028-29) for medical education: 1. It aims to add roughly 10,000 UG and PG seats by strengthening existing government medical colleges. 2. Its total outlay is of the order of Rs 15,000 crore. 3. Unlike the earlier scheme that built new colleges attached to district hospitals, this scheme funds only private medical colleges. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It aims to add roughly 10,000 UG and PG seats by strengthening existing government medical colleges.
  2. Its total outlay is of the order of Rs 15,000 crore.
  3. Unlike the earlier scheme that built new colleges attached to district hospitals, this scheme funds only private medical colleges.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. With reference to the parliamentary disclosure of the medical seat expansion, consider the following institutional identifications: 1. The underlying seat and registration data was sourced from the National Medical Commission. 2. The nodal ministry for the disclosure is the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. 3. The information was conveyed through a written reply in the Lok Sabha. 4. The underlying data was sourced from the NITI Aayog. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The underlying seat and registration data was sourced from the National Medical Commission.
  2. The nodal ministry for the disclosure is the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  3. The information was conveyed through a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
  4. The underlying data was sourced from the NITI Aayog.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4