Centre sanctions ₹273.46 crore for Agartala Medical College expansion, MBBS and PG seats to rise
Synopsis
The Centre has committed ₹273.46 crore to expand Agartala Government Medical College — a move that will add 100 MBBS and 83 PG seats from 2026-27, taking Tripura's total MBBS capacity to 550 seats across three colleges. For a state that has cut outside referrals by 80 per cent in recent years, this is the next structural bet on keeping healthcare at home.
Key Takeaways
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sanctioned ₹273.46 crore for Agartala Government Medical College in Tripura .
The funds will add 100 MBBS seats and 83 Postgraduate seats across 19 critical and speciality disciplines from the 2026-27 academic session .
Tripura's total MBBS capacity will rise to 550 seats across three medical colleges, with 196 postgraduate seats in all.
Chief Minister Manik Saha credited PM Modi and Union Minister J.P.
Nadda for the sanction.
Tripura has already recorded an 80 per cent reduction in out-of-state patient referrals, according to Saha.
Further plans include a medical university , new super-speciality hospitals, a college in the TTAADC area, and a dedicated eye hospital.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sanctioned ₹273.46 crore for the expansion and infrastructure development of Agartala Government Medical College in Tripura, Chief Minister Manik Saha announced on Friday, 15 May. The funds are set to significantly boost medical education capacity in the state from the academic session 2026-27.
What the Funds Will Enable
According to Chief Minister Saha, the sanctioned amount will allow the state to add 100 MBBS seats and 83 Postgraduate seats across 19 critical and speciality disciplines. These additions will take effect from the 2026-27 academic session, marking a substantial step up in the state's medical training capacity.
With these new seats, Tripura will have a total of 550 MBBS seats across its three medical colleges and 196 postgraduate seats — what Saha described as a record increase in medical education capacity over the last four years.
What the Chief Minister Said
Saha, who also holds the Health and Family Welfare portfolio, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda for approving the financial assistance. 'I would like to thank Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and Hon'ble Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Shri J.P. Nadda Ji for sanctioning ₹273.46 crore for infrastructure development of Agartala Government Medical College,' Saha said in a social media post. He added: 'We are committed to improving healthcare services for citizens as well as strengthening medical education opportunities for young aspirants in the state.'
Tripura's Three Medical Colleges
Tripura currently operates three medical institutions: the state-run Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, the semi-government Tripura Medical College and Dr B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital, and the privately managed Tripura Santiniketan Medical College and Hospital. Established in 2005, the Agartala Government Medical College was the first medical institution in the state.
Broader Healthcare Expansion Under Way
This announcement follows remarks Saha made on Wednesday, in which he stated that Tripura's focus on healthcare modernisation had already resulted in an 80 per cent reduction in the number of patients referred outside the state for specialised treatment. He also indicated that a medical university would soon be established in Tripura.
Additional plans include more super-speciality hospitals, a new medical college in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) area, and a dedicated eye hospital. Saha, himself a dental surgeon, said these initiatives aim to ensure that residents can access advanced medical care within Tripura without the need to travel elsewhere.
With the Centre's latest sanction, Tripura's healthcare infrastructure push enters a significant new phase — one that will be tested by execution timelines and actual seat operationalisation in the coming academic years.
Point of View
Equipment, and accreditation, all of which have tripped up similar expansions elsewhere. Tripura's 80 per cent reduction in outside referrals is a striking claim that deserves independent verification; if accurate, it would be one of the more remarkable healthcare turnarounds in the region. The proposed TTAADC medical college, if it materialises, could be the more transformative announcement — serving a tribal population that has historically had the least access to institutional healthcare.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has the Centre sanctioned for Agartala Government Medical College?
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sanctioned ₹273.46 crore for the expansion and infrastructure development of Agartala Government Medical College in Tripura. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Manik Saha on 15 May.
How many new MBBS and PG seats will be added?
The sanctioned funds will enable the addition of 100 MBBS seats and 83 Postgraduate seats across 19 critical and speciality disciplines, effective from the 2026-27 academic session.
What will Tripura's total medical seat capacity be after the expansion?
After the expansion, Tripura will have 550 MBBS seats across its three medical colleges and 196 postgraduate seats in total, which the Chief Minister described as a record increase over the last four years.
Which medical colleges does Tripura currently have?
Tripura has three medical colleges: the state-run Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (established in 2005), the semi-government Tripura Medical College and Dr B.R. Ambedkar Memorial Teaching Hospital, and the privately managed Tripura Santiniketan Medical College and Hospital.
What other healthcare projects are planned for Tripura?
Chief Minister Manik Saha has announced plans for a medical university, additional super-speciality hospitals, a new medical college in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) area, and a dedicated eye hospital, all aimed at reducing the need for patients to seek treatment outside the state.
