The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 13,186 additional MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic session, taking the country’s total undergraduate medical intake to 1,40,214 seats across 836 colleges. The revised seat matrix was cleared by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) and the health ministry’s first and second appeal committees, and it takes effect from September 1, 2026. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh recorded the largest gains, while private medical colleges accounted for nearly 79 percent of all newly added seats.
Key Highlights
- NMC’s revised seat matrix for 2026-27 adds 13,186 MBBS seats, taking the national total to 1,40,214 across 836 medical colleges.
- Private colleges added 10,400 seats (391 institutions, now totalling 76,243 seats); government colleges added 2,786 seats (445 institutions, now totalling 63,971 seats).
- Karnataka recorded the highest increase at 1,650 seats (total 15,745), followed by Tamil Nadu (1,250, total 14,299), Bihar (1,240, total 4,660) and Uttar Pradesh (1,200, total 14,400).
- Rajasthan, Telangana, West Bengal and Maharashtra also saw increases of over 500 seats each.
- Seven states and union territories, including Delhi and Meghalaya, received no additional seats this cycle.
- 38 new medical colleges have been added to the network this year.
- The revision coincides with NEET-UG counselling Round 2; seat allotment results were declared on September 11, with college reporting running till September 18.
- NMC has warned colleges against admitting students beyond their approved intake, calling excess admissions non-compliance with the NMC Act, 2019.
National MBBS Capacity Crosses 1.4 Lakh
Of the 1,40,214 total MBBS seats notified for 2026-27, 1,27,028 seats were renewed from the previous cycle, and 13,186 were new additions, according to the updated matrix released by the NMC. The count excludes Institutes of National Importance such as AIIMS Delhi and JIPMER, which are governed separately. This is the second consecutive year the seat matrix has been revised mid-cycle, after similar late additions during the 2025-26 session.
Government vs Private Colleges: Where the New Seats Went
Private medical colleges picked up the bulk of the expansion. India’s 391 private colleges added 10,400 seats, raising their combined capacity to 76,243, while the country’s 445 government colleges added 2,786 seats, taking their total to 63,971. Despite having fewer institutions, private colleges now account for a larger share of the country’s total MBBS capacity than government colleges.
States That Gained the Most Seats
Karnataka posted the biggest jump, adding 1,650 seats to reach 15,745 across its medical colleges. Tamil Nadu followed with 1,250 additional seats, taking its total to 14,299, while Bihar added 1,240 seats for a new total of 4,660. Uttar Pradesh gained 1,200 seats, bringing its capacity to 14,400. Rajasthan, Telangana, West Bengal and Maharashtra each recorded increases ranging from roughly 550 to 1,100 seats.
Seven states and union territories saw no change in their seat count this cycle: Delhi, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Why the Revision Came Now
The additions follow approvals granted by MARB and the health ministry’s appellate committees to colleges that had applied for new recognition or higher intake for 2026-27. With 38 new medical colleges added this year, the revision was notified in time to feed into NEET-UG Counselling Round 2, allowing the extra seats to be offered to candidates still in the counselling process rather than held back for a later cycle.
NMC’s Warning to Medical Colleges
Alongside the expanded seat count, NMC reiterated that colleges cannot admit students beyond their MARB-approved intake. The commission stated that any admission made in excess of the approved capacity would be treated as non-compliance with the provisions of the NMC Act, 2019, and warned that counselling committees are barred from permitting such admissions under any circumstances. Violations may invite regulatory and penal action against the institutions concerned.
Assam Welcomes the Expansion
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the seat matrix revision in a post on social media, describing the expansion as a boost for medical education and the state’s efforts to train more doctors. Several other state governments that gained seats in this round have yet to issue an official statement.
Important Dates
- Seat matrix effective from: September 1, 2026
- Revised matrix notified by NMC: September 9, 2026
- NEET-UG Counselling Round 2 seat allotment result: September 11, 2026
- College reporting for Round 2: September 12–18, 2026
- Verification of enrolled candidates: September 19, 2026
Official Website / Important Links
- National Medical Commission: https://www.nmc.org.in
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC): https://mcc.nic.in
- NMC Seat Matrix Public Notice (PDF): https://www.nmc.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SeatMatrixPublicNotice_on_1_9_26_Merged.pdf
