Mann Govt Making Punjab Premier Healthcare & Medical Education Hub: Harpal Singh Cheema
CHANDIGARH; 24th September 2026:
In a major boost to medical education and public healthcare infrastructure in the state, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has accorded approval for the creation of 110 new posts of Junior Residents (JRs) at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), SAS Nagar (Mohali), raising the total sanctioned JR strength from 97 to 207.
Announcing the decision, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Bhagwant Singh Mann Government is committed to transforming Punjab into a premier healthcare and medical education hub. Following consents of affiliation granted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) across 24 departments, the annual postgraduate intake at AIMS Mohali has expanded to 69 seats per year, necessitating a total working capacity of 207 postgraduate/Junior Resident doctors over a standard three-year academic cycle.”
Detailing the institutional requirements, the Finance Minister said, “At present, Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences has 97 sanctioned Junior Resident posts. With an annual intake of 38 academic residents, the existing strength stands at 114 over the three-year training cycle.”
“In light of the new postgraduate courses and expanded departments, the seat requirements have been projected at 147 for the academic session 2026–2027, 177 for 2027–2028, and 207 for 2028–2029. To bridge the immediate shortfall and successfully cater to the requirement of 147 seats for the ongoing academic year 2026–27, our government has approved the immediate creation of these crucial posts,” he added.
The Finance Minister further added that during the current academic session, seven regular/post-diploma Junior Residents are due to complete their tenure and be relieved, including six in October 2026 and one in December 2026, making the reinforcement of resident doctors essential to prevent any disruption to clinical and patient care.
Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated that the proposal received from the Department of Medical Education and Research has been approved to ensure that premier state-run medical colleges are fully equipped with specialised human resources, advanced training facilities, and superior healthcare services for the public.
