MBBS Seats – India Expands Undergraduate Medical Capacity Ahead of NEET-UG Results
MBBS Seats -As anticipation builds around the NEET-UG results, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced a significant expansion in undergraduate medical education by increasing the number of MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic session. The latest revision raises the country’s total MBBS intake to 1,36,939 seats across 823 medical colleges, marking a notable increase from the previous academic year and offering more opportunities for medical aspirants.
Nationwide Capacity Sees Strong Growth
According to the updated seat matrix released by the NMC, the revised figures do not include Institutes of National Importance such as AIIMS. Compared with the 2025-26 academic session, when 1,28,976 MBBS seats were available in 818 medical colleges, the current expansion reflects a net addition of 9,911 seats. The overall increase represents nearly seven percent growth in undergraduate medical education infrastructure across the country.
The Commission also stated that out of the previously approved seats, 1,27,028 were renewed, while the remaining increase has been achieved through additional approvals granted for the new academic session.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Lead the Seat Distribution
Among all states, Karnataka continues to have the largest MBBS capacity. The state now has 75 medical colleges with a combined intake of 15,395 seats after receiving an additional 1,300 seats this year. Tamil Nadu remains close behind with 78 medical colleges offering 13,999 seats, reflecting an increase of 950 seats over the previous session.
Uttar Pradesh occupies the next position with 88 medical colleges providing 14,000 seats. Maharashtra follows with 86 colleges and a total of 13,099 seats, while Telangana has expanded its capacity to 10,250 seats across 66 medical colleges.
Seat Availability Across Other States
Several other states have also recorded substantial undergraduate medical capacity. Rajasthan now offers 8,080 MBBS seats, followed by Gujarat with 7,750 seats and Andhra Pradesh with 7,465 seats. West Bengal has a total of 7,200 seats, while Madhya Pradesh has 6,020 seats available.
Kerala has 5,704 MBBS seats, Bihar offers 4,160 seats, Haryana has 2,960 seats, and Odisha provides 2,950 seats. Punjab accounts for 1,850 seats, Uttarakhand has 1,475 seats, and Chandigarh has 200 seats available for the upcoming admission cycle.
New Medical Colleges Contribute to Expansion
The NMC attributed a significant part of the increase to the establishment of 25 newly approved medical colleges across the country. These institutions have collectively added 2,400 MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic year.
Among the newly approved colleges, seven government medical institutions contribute 400 seats, while 18 private medical colleges account for the remaining 2,000 seats. The expansion is expected to improve access to medical education and help address the growing demand for healthcare professionals in different regions of India.
Government and Private Institutions Both Increase Intake
The revised seat matrix highlights growth in both public and private medical institutions. Government medical colleges now number 441, together offering 63,296 MBBS seats. Of these, 61,185 seats have been renewed, while an additional 2,111 seats have been approved during the latest expansion.
Private medical colleges now total 382 institutions with a combined intake of 73,643 seats. The Commission reported that 65,843 seats were renewed and another 7,800 seats have been added under the revised approvals for the new academic session.
The latest increase in MBBS seats comes at a time when thousands of candidates are awaiting the declaration of NEET-UG results, providing expanded admission opportunities and reflecting continued efforts to strengthen India’s medical education system.