A Dose of Education: ESIC Plans to Inject 10 New Med Colleges into India’s Map

Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) plans to establish 20 new medical colleges in India by the year 2027, the first 10 of which will be inaugurated in 2025-26 in locations like Pune, Manesar, Kollam, and Surat. Ten more colleges will be opened in 2026-27, providing affordable medical educa...

Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) plans to establish 20 new medical colleges in India by the year 2027, the first 10 of which will be inaugurated in 2025-26 in locations like Pune, Manesar, Kollam, and Surat. Ten more colleges will be opened in 2026-27, providing affordable medical education to 3.72 crore insured workers and their dependents. Key points: Reservations: 40% of MBBS seats reserved for worker children earning ≤₹21,000/month under the ESI Act. Infrastructure: Each college will offer 50-100 seats and include a 200-500 bed hospital, with land acquisition underway in Ludhiana (25 acres) and Noida (100 acres near the airport). Immediate rollout: Ten colleges in Andheri, Basaidarapur, and Varanasi will admit students from August 2025, pending NMC approvals. The expansion aligns with PM Modi’s goal to add 75,000 medical seats by 2029, addressing rising healthcare costs and workforce shortages. Sources: The Hindu Business Line, PIB, Times of India