Total MBBS Seats increased to 1,39,439
This expansion is expected to improve admission prospects for thousands of candidates who appeared for NEET UG 2026. Experts also believe that the seat count will continue to increase before the final rounds of counselling, making this one of the biggest expansions in India’s medical education system.
The National Medical Commission has issued Letters of Permission (LoP) to 25 newly established medical colleges for the academic year 2026–27. Among these, seven are government medical colleges, while 18 belong to the private sector.
These approvals have resulted in the addition of 2,111 government MBBS seats and 7,800 private MBBS seats, taking the total increase to 9,911 seats. The move is aimed at expanding medical education infrastructure and addressing the growing demand for doctors across the country.
According to career counselling expert at ALLEN Career Institute, the total number of MBBS seats in India has now reached 1,39,439, a significant rise from the previous academic year. He explained that this is only the current count, as several medical colleges are still awaiting final approval from the NMC.
Institutions such as AIIMS Rewari and multiple government medical colleges in states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and the North-Eastern region are expected to receive approval in the coming weeks. Existing government and private medical colleges are also likely to receive permission to increase their intake capacity.
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Medical experts believe the present seat matrix may not represent the final number of seats available during NEET UG 2026 counselling. While some newly approved colleges may not be included in the initial counselling rounds due to administrative formalities, they are expected to become available before the final rounds. If pending approvals are granted on time, the total MBBS seat count could increase to between 1.42 lakh and 1.45 lakh seats, giving students additional opportunities to secure admission.
Rajasthan has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the latest approvals. The state has received permission for three new private medical colleges, including Bharat Vikas Parishad Medical College, Kota, which has been granted an intake of 150 MBBS seats, and Dr. B.S. Tomar Medical College, Jaipur, which has also received approval for 150 seats. These additions further strengthen Rajasthan’s position as an important destination for medical education.
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With the approval of the new colleges, Rajasthan now has 52 medical colleges offering a total of 7,680 MBBS seats. Out of these, 34 government medical colleges account for 4,630 seats, while 18 private medical colleges contribute 3,050 seats.
The state’s seat matrix also includes 150 MBBS seats at AIIMS Jodhpur, along with 100 seats at ESIC Medical College, Alwar, and 50 seats at ESIC Medical College, Jaipur. Admissions to AIIMS are conducted through central counselling, while the remaining government college seats are filled through 15% All India Quota and 85% State Quota counselling.
Among all states, Chhattisgarh has received the highest number of approvals for new government medical colleges. New institutions have been sanctioned in Dantewada, Janjgir-Champa, Jashpur (Kunkuri), Kabirdham, and Manendragarh. Apart from Chhattisgarh, new government medical colleges have also been approved in Piduguralla (Andhra Pradesh) and Sikkim. These approvals are expected to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in underserved regions while increasing access to medical education.
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The expansion is not limited to government institutions. Rajasthan leads the country with three newly approved private medical colleges, followed by Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, each receiving approval for two new private colleges. Additionally, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal have each been granted permission for one new private medical college. This balanced expansion across multiple states is expected to improve regional availability of MBBS seats.
The increase in MBBS seats over the past year has been remarkable. During the 2025–26 academic session, India had 1,29,528 MBBS seats, including 63,685 government seats and 65,843 private seats.
For the 2026–27 academic session, the current seat count has risen to 1,39,439, comprising 65,796 government seats and 73,643 private seats. The government seat count includes 2,257 seats across 20 AIIMS institutions and 243 seats in two JIPMER campuses. Overall, India has witnessed a net increase of 9,911 MBBS seats, including 2,111 government seats and 7,800 private seats, compared to last year.
The increase in MBBS seats comes as welcome news for students preparing for NEET UG 2026 counselling. With more government and private seats becoming available, candidates across different rank ranges are likely to have improved admission prospects. Students should, however, keep a close watch on official counselling updates, as several additional seats may be incorporated before the later rounds of counselling following fresh approvals from the National Medical Commission.
The approval of 25 new medical colleges and the addition of 9,911 MBBS seats represent a significant milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen medical education. With the current MBBS seat matrix already reaching 1,39,439 seats and further approvals expected before counselling concludes, NEET UG 2026 candidates have more opportunities than ever before to secure admission. As the counselling process progresses, aspirants are advised to stay updated with the latest seat matrix, counselling schedules, and newly approved colleges to maximize their chances of obtaining an MBBS seat in their preferred institution
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