The decision, announced in the Maharashtra Assembly by Health Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, is part of a broader expansion plan that also includes increasing student intake in existing institutions and upgrading General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) schools into degree-granting nursing colleges.

According to the minister, the state has sanctioned a total outlay of ₹558.71 crore for the expansion programme. The initiative comes at a time when Maharashtra’s healthcare sector is witnessing rising demand for qualified nursing staff across government hospitals, medical colleges and private healthcare facilities.

Government data presented in the Assembly showed that Maharashtra had 2,17,640 registered nurses in 2025. Despite this sizeable workforce, authorities believe additional nursing professionals will be required to meet the expanding needs of the healthcare system.

Under the new plan, each of the 10 proposed government BSc Nursing Colleges will have an annual intake capacity of 100 students. The institutions will be established in Chandrapur, Sindhudurg, Yavatmal, Alibag in Raigad district, Ratnagiri, Amravati, Dharashiv, Gadchiroli, Palghar and Ahilyanagar.

Officials said the move is expected to improve access to nursing education in districts that currently have limited opportunities for students seeking professional healthcare training.

The government has approved ₹334.80 crore towards capital expenditure for setting up the new colleges. Three of the proposed institutions—located in Yavatmal, Chandrapur and Sindhudurg—are also expected to receive financial support under a central government nursing education scheme.

The expansion plan extends beyond new institutions. Eight existing government-run GNM schools will be upgraded into full-fledged BSc Nursing Colleges, significantly increasing the number of degree-level nursing seats available in the state.

The institutions identified for upgradation are located at GT Hospital and St. George Hospital in Mumbai, along with centres in Dhule, Solapur, Ambajogai in Beed district, Akola, Nagpur and Sangli.

Following the upgrade, each of these colleges will be able to admit 100 students annually. Under the Centre’s nursing education initiative, every upgraded institution will receive financial assistance of ₹7 crore for infrastructure and academic development.

The government has also approved an increase in intake capacity at five existing government BSc Nursing Colleges. Institutions in Mumbai, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Pune and Nanded will see their annual intake rise from 50 seats to 100 seats.

To support the expansion, the state has sanctioned approximately ₹68.43 crore for infrastructure enhancement, equipment procurement and other academic requirements at these colleges.

Officials believe the combined impact of new colleges, upgraded institutions and increased intake capacity will substantially expand Maharashtra’s nursing education ecosystem over the coming years.

Apart from infrastructure funding, the state government has also approved recurring annual expenditure of ₹12.58 crore to support operations. New teaching and non-teaching positions have been sanctioned to ensure adequate faculty strength and administrative support for the expanded network of institutions.

The announcement is expected to be welcomed by students seeking careers in healthcare, particularly those from districts where access to professional nursing education has remained limited.

With healthcare services continuing to expand across Maharashtra, the government views the development of a larger and better-trained nursing workforce as a critical component of strengthening the state's medical infrastructure and improving patient care standards in the years ahead.