India is on track to meet the WHO’s recommended doctor-to-population ratio of 1:1,000 by 2030, as highlighted in the Economic Survey report. Currently, the country has 13.86 lakh doctors, translating to a ratio of 1:1,263. With an estimated 50,000 doctors being licensed annually, this target appears achievable by 2030.
The growth in the number of doctors has been driven by a steady expansion of medical colleges, which have increased from 499 in FY 2019 to 780 in FY 2025. During this period, MBBS seats have risen from 70,012 (2019) to 1,18,137 (2025). However, as per reports it also raises concerns about the uneven distribution of medical colleges and the shortage of specialists, particularly in rural areas.
