NEET UG: NMC adds 13,186 MBBS seats, total intake reaches 1.4 lakh

The National Medical Commission has added 13,186 MBBS seats for NEET UG 2026, taking the total to 1,40,214. Karnataka leads with 1,650 new seats, while private colleges account for nearly 79% of the increase, giving medical aspirants a wider seat pool as counselling continues across the country nationwide.

In Short

• Private colleges contributed 10,400 seats, accounting for most of the expansion
• Government colleges added 2,786 seats, taking their total to 63,971
• Karnataka saw the biggest rise, while Tamil Nadu, Bihar and UP followed

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 13,186 additional MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic year, taking the total number of seats to 1,40,214 across 836 medical colleges.

The updated seat matrix was issued as NEET UG counselling is under way. The increase means more students could have a chance at an MBBS seat this admission cycle, although final allotment will depend on counselling.

PRIVATE COLLEGES DRIVE THE GROWTH

Of the 13,186 new seats, 10,400 have been added in 391 private medical colleges. Government colleges account for 2,786 new seats across 445 colleges.

This takes the government college total to 63,971 seats, while private colleges now account for 76,243 seats. Overall, the intake has risen by about 10.4% from 1,27,028 seats.

KARNATAKA LEADS THE SEAT SURGE

Karnataka has received the biggest increase, with 1,650 new MBBS seats. Its total intake now stands at 15,745 seats across 76 medical colleges.

Tamil Nadu follows with 1,250 additional seats, taking its total to 14,299. Bihar has added 1,240 seats and now has 4,660, while Uttar Pradesh has added 1,200, taking its total to 14,400.

Rajasthan has added 1,100 seats, followed by Telangana with 1,010 and West Bengal with 975. Maharashtra has added 550 seats, taking its total to 13,249.

NOT EVERY STATE GOT MORE SEATS

The increase covers 27 states and Union Territories, but seven have recorded no rise in the latest matrix. These are Delhi, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Smaller additions include one seat in Himachal Pradesh, 25 in Manipur and 50 each in Chandigarh, Goa, Punjab and Tripura.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR NEET ASPIRANTS

The extra seats expand the pool available during the 2026-27 admission cycle. However, students cannot assume that every newly approved seat will be available in every counselling round.

The NMC has directed counselling authorities to follow the approved seat matrix. If any discrepancy is found, it must be referred to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board. Colleges have also been warned against admitting students beyond their approved intake, as this can invite regulatory action.

With the provisional Round 2 allotment process already under way, the new numbers could make this counselling cycle particularly important for students still waiting for a medical seat.

- Ends