Medical aspirants appearing for NEET UG 2026 have a larger pool of MBBS seats to compete for after the National Medical Commission (NMC) approved 13,186 additional seats for the 2026–27 academic session.

Following the latest revision, the total MBBS intake has reached 1,40,214 seats across 836 medical colleges. The updated figures come as the admission and counselling process continues, potentially giving candidates more options during seat allocation.

Private Medical Colleges Account for Most New Seats

A major portion of the expansion has come from private medical institutions.

Of the newly approved seats, 10,400 are in 391 private medical colleges, while 2,786 seats have been added across 445 government medical colleges.

With the latest additions, government institutions now offer 63,971 MBBS seats, compared with 76,243 seats in private colleges.

The overall number of MBBS seats has increased from 1,27,028 to 1,40,214, representing a rise of roughly 10.4%.

Karnataka Records the Largest Increase

Among the states, Karnataka has registered the biggest addition, with 1,650 new MBBS seats. Its overall intake has consequently risen to 15,745 seats across 76 medical colleges.

Other major increases include:

• Tamil Nadu: 1,250 additional seats; total intake of 14,299
• Bihar: 1,240 additional seats; total intake of 4,660
• Uttar Pradesh: 1,200 additional seats; total intake of 14,400
• Rajasthan: 1,100 additional seats
• Telangana: 1,010 additional seats
• West Bengal: 975 additional seats
• Maharashtra: 550 additional seats; total intake of 13,249

The expansion varies considerably between states, with some regions receiving substantial increases while others have seen little or no change.

Seven States and UTs See No Increase

The revised seat matrix covers 27 states and Union Territories. However, the latest update does not show an increase for seven regions.

These include Delhi, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Some regions have received only modest additions. Himachal Pradesh, for example, has gained one seat, while Manipur has added 25. Chandigarh, Goa, Punjab and Tripura have each received 50 additional seats.

More Seats Do Not Guarantee Admission

For NEET UG candidates, the increase in MBBS capacity could provide additional opportunities during the 2026–27 counselling process. However, the higher intake should not be interpreted as a guarantee of admission.

Seat availability can differ between counselling rounds, and candidates will still have to compete according to their rank, category, eligibility and other applicable admission rules.

Counselling authorities are expected to use the approved seat matrix while conducting allocations. Any differences or inconsistencies in the reported intake are to be taken up with the Medical Assessment and Rating Board.

Medical colleges have also been cautioned against admitting students beyond their sanctioned capacity, as exceeding the approved intake may result in regulatory consequences.

Why the Updated Seat Matrix Matters

The addition of more than 13,000 MBBS seats makes the latest counselling cycle significant for students who are still seeking admission.

While the expanded capacity improves the overall availability of medical seats, the practical benefit for an individual candidate will depend on factors such as NEET rank, preferred state, college choices, reservation category and the availability of seats during each counselling round.

Candidates should therefore check the latest official seat matrix and counselling updates before finalising their preferences.