New Delhi: It's good news for medical college aspirants. The central government on Friday increased the number of MBBS seats from 75 to 100 at the Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the decision was conveyed to the college authorities on Sep 20. The decision will have to be implemented from the current academic session.

"The MBBS seats at Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research for the academic year 2007-08 would be filled in from the waitlisted candidates," the ministry said in a statement.

Of the 25 seats increased, 19 will be for general category, four for scheduled caste candidates and two for scheduled tribe aspirants.

JIPMER traces its origin to 1823 when a medical school called 'Ecole de Medicine de Pondichery' was established by the then French government.

In November 1956 the Government of India took over the medical college in the wake of the 'de facto' transfer of Pondicherry. The college was upgraded to a regional centre and named JIPMER on July 13, 1964.

The premier medial college is under the direct administrative control of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. IANS