The centre administration has given sanction to an extra 3,791 PG seats in medical institutions from the academic year 2010-11.

The will raise the overall number of post-graduate seats from the existing 13,503 to 17,294 in 2010-11 across 22 states as well as Union Territories.

Out of these additional seats, 3,085 seats have been added to govt institutions and 706 to private colleges.

Admissions for post-graduate courses in colleges across the country will begin on April 26 and courses start May 2.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad stated, "An increase in the number of PG doctors will have a multiplier effect and increase the number of teachers."

With this verdict, the number of post-graduate seats climbs up to 17,294.

"An increase in the number of PG doctors will have a multiplier effect and increase the number of teachers. Once we have more PG specialists to teach medical students, MBBS seats can be rapidly expanded," Mr. Azad said.

These post-graduate seats will be in addition to the 188 PG seats at AIIMS and another 220 at PGI Chandigarh, which are reserved alone.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) governs 300 medical institutions in the country, out of which the administration directs 143.

Dr. Ketan Desai, president, MCI said, "Changing the professor-student ratio from 1:1 to 1: 2 has added 2,723 seats because one professor can now guide two post-graduate students."

Also adding to the number was the rationalization of a section in the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act, under which any institution - government or private - can now apply to start new medical courses or increase seats.

The MCI forwarded its proposals to the ministry of health on Tuesday, following which the health department will issue a concluding order by March 31.