How many registered doctors are there in India?

History

The Register counts doctors who are registered, not doctors who are working. The Ministry assumes 80% of registered practitioners in both systems are available when it works out the doctor-population ratio.

The figures side by side

How we got this number

1. Take the Indian Medical Register (IMR) count from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reply in the Lok Sabha on 24 July 2026, which cites the National Medical Commission (NMC): 15,35,155, plus 7,51,768 AYUSH practitioners.
2. Set it against the Ministry's three earlier counts of registered allopathic doctors: 13,86,150 (1 April 2025), 13,86,157 (25 July 2025) and 13,88,185 (10 February 2026).
3. Subtract the February 2026 count from the July 2026 count to size the change: 15,35,155 minus 13,88,185 is 1,46,970.

What this number does not tell you

• The July 2026 release does not use the word "allopathic". It cites the Indian Medical Register, which is the NMC's register of doctors in modern medicine, so we treat it as the same series as the earlier counts.
• The count rose by about 1,46,970 between the 10 February 2026 reply and the 24 July 2026 reply. The three earlier counts had moved by only a few thousand in ten months. The Ministry gives no reason, so we rate this page medium, not high.
• Registered is not the same as practising. Some registered doctors have retired, moved abroad or do not work in medicine.
• The 1:778 ratio is the Ministry's estimate. It assumes 80% of registered practitioners in the allopathic and AYUSH systems are available.

Sources

1. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (PIB), Lok Sabha reply on medical seats and doctors, 24 July 2026As informed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), there is an increase in MBBS seats from 1,09,115 in AY 2023-24 to 1,28,976 in AY 2025-26 and an increase in PG seats from 31,185 in AY 2023-24 to 86,360 in AY 2025-26. As per the Indian Medical Register (IMR), the total number of registered is 15,35,155 and 7,51,768 registered practitioners in the AYUSH system of medicine as of now. Assuming that 80% of registered practitioners in both the allopathic and AYUSH systems are available, the doctor-population ratio in the country is estimated to be 1:778.
2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (PIB), update on health workforce availability, 10 February 2026There are 13,88,185 registered allopathic doctors and 7,51,768 registered AYUSH practitioners.
3. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (PIB), steps taken to improve medical education, 25 July 2025As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,157 registered allopathic doctors.
4. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (PIB), measures to increase medical professionals, 1 April 2025As per information provided by National Medical Commission (NMC), there are 13,86,150 registered allopathic doctors.

Worked out by us: 1,46,970 (15,35,155 (24 July 2026 reply) minus 13,88,185 (10 February 2026 reply)).

Questions people ask

What is the doctor-population ratio in India?

The Ministry of Health estimates it at 1:778 in its Lok Sabha reply of 24 July 2026, assuming 80% of registered practitioners in the allopathic and AYUSH systems are available.

How many AYUSH practitioners are registered?

7,51,768, the same count the Ministry has given in each of its replies from April 2025 to July 2026.

How many MBBS seats are there?

1,28,976 in AY 2025-26, up from 1,09,115 in AY 2023-24, as informed by the National Medical Commission. PG seats rose from 31,185 to 86,360 over the same two years.

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This is a best guess, not an official statistic. We recheck it half-yearly. If you have a newer or better source, send it to us.