If you are preparing for NEET UG and dreaming of securing admission to an MBBS program, there is good news for you. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released the new list of MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic session. A total of 136,939 MBBS seats will be available across government and private medical colleges nationwide. While the results for NEET UG 2026 are yet to be declared, the increase in the number of seats is expected to provide significantly more opportunities for lakhs of students. However, the question remains: does an increase in seats mean becoming a doctor has become easier? The answer is not a simple ‘yes,’ and it is important to understand the reasons behind this.
**By how much have MBBS seats increased?**
According to the NMC, there has been an increase of 7,913 MBBS seats this year compared to the last. Government medical colleges now offer 63,297 seats, while private medical colleges have 73,643 seats; notably, for the first time, the number of seats in private medical colleges has significantly surpassed that of government colleges. However, experts in medical education suggest that the actual increase could be even higher. They believe that several new medical colleges did not receive final approval from state authorities last year; once these colleges become operational, the actual increase in seats could exceed 9,911.
**Greater increase in seats in private colleges compared to government ones**
An analysis of the figures reveals that the most significant expansion has occurred in private medical colleges. Last year, government medical colleges had 61,558 seats, a figure that has risen to 63,297 this year—meaning only 1,739 new seats were added in government institutions. In contrast, private medical colleges had 67,468 seats last year; this number has now risen to 73,643, with 6,175 new seats added. Thus, the largest share of the total increase in seats has come from private medical colleges.
**Has becoming a doctor become easier now?**
An increase in seats is certainly good news for students, but it does not mean that gaining admission to MBBS courses will become very easy. Every year, lakhs of students take the NEET-UG exam, while the total number of MBBS seats remains significantly lower than the total number of aspirants; consequently, the competition will remain intense. However, states where new seats have been added may see a positive impact on cut-offs and seat availability.
How many MBBS seats have increased in your state?
This time, there has been a significant increase in medical seats across several states. South India and some major states have benefited the most.
Karnataka: 1,451 new seats (increased from 13,944 to 15,395)
Tamil Nadu: 949 new seats
Rajasthan: 750 new seats
Telangana: 710 new seats
West Bengal: 701 new seats
Uttar Pradesh: 575 new seats
Maharashtra: 275 new seats
What is the situation in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh?
The information released by the NMC does not provide specific figures regarding the increase in new seats for Bihar and Madhya Pradesh in this report. However, MBBS seats are available in existing medical colleges in both states, and the state-wise seat matrix will be released during the final counseling process.
Which states have the highest number of MBBS seats?
In terms of total seats, the country's largest medical education network is concentrated in a few select states. States with more than 10,000 MBBS seats include Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Maharashtra. These states account for the highest number of medical colleges and MBBS admissions annually.
Where are MBBS seats the fewest?
The medical education infrastructure remains limited in several small states and the Northeastern states. Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland have only 100 seats each. Additionally, Chandigarh has 200 seats, while Goa and Manipur have 250 seats each.
Will admissions for all the new seats take place this year? The answer to this question is—not necessarily. According to medical admission counselor Rampratap, obtaining NMC approval alone is not enough; any medical college must also secure final permission from the respective state's regulatory body. For instance, in Maharashtra, medical colleges require approval from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) in addition to the NMC. Seats are not included in the counseling process until approvals from both levels are obtained.
Many seats remained vacant last year as well.
According to Sudha Shenoy, admissions could not be completed for many seats listed in the NMC's seat matrix last year because final approvals from the states were not received on time. This is why, while the increase in seats appears to be 7,913 on paper, the actual number of available seats could exceed 9,000.
Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from News18 Hindi. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.
