Bhubaneswar, Sept 2: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday took to social media and stated that the National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted permission to begin MBBS admissions for the 2025–26 academic year at two newly established government medical colleges in Odisha.

The Pabitra Mohan Pradhan Medical College, Talcher in Angul district and the Government Medical College, Phulbani in Kandhamal district will each offer 100 MBBS seats.

ଅନୁଗୋଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲାର ତାଳଚେର ପବିତ୍ର ମୋହନ ମେଡିକାଲ କଲେଜ ଏବଂ କନ୍ଧମାଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲାର ଫୁଲବାଣୀ ସରକାରୀ ମେଡିକାଲ କଲେଜରେ ୨୦୨୫-୨୬ ଶିକ୍ଷାବର୍ଷରୁ ୧୦୦ ଏମବିବିଏସ ସିଟ୍ ପାଇଁ ନାମଲେଖା ପ୍ରକ୍ରିୟା ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବାକୁ ଅନୁମତି ମିଳିଥିବାରୁ ମାନ୍ୟବର ପ୍ରଧାନମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ @narendramodi ଏବଂ କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସ୍ୱାସ୍ଥ୍ୟ ମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ @JPNadda ଙ୍କୁ ଧନ୍ୟବାଦ…

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) September 2, 2025

In his post on X, Minister Pradhan expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda for their support in strengthening Odisha’s healthcare and medical education infrastructure. He also thanked Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and State's Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling for their continued efforts in advancing health services across the state.

The Minister emphasized that this transformative step aligns with the Prime Minister’s “Purvodaya” mission, which aims to uplift eastern India through strategic development. The new medical colleges will provide high-quality healthcare access to tribal-dominated regions like Kandhamal and educationally-backward districts such as Angul.

A major highlight of the initiative is the Rs1,600 crore investment by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a central public sector enterprise, in building the Talcher Medical College and Hospital. Once operational, the facility is expected to serve residents of Talcher, Angul, and neighboring districts, significantly improving regional healthcare delivery.

This expansion is seen as a reflection of the “double-engine government’s” commitment to inclusive development and quality medical education. The move will not only increase Odisha’s MBBS capacity but also ensure that students from remote areas have access to professional medical training, ultimately contributing to a stronger healthcare workforce.