NMC UG Seat Matrix Explained : 9,911 MBBS Seats Increased for 2026–27
The National Medical Commission has released the Undergraduate MBBS Seat Matrix for the academic year 2026–27, excluding seats in Institutes of National Importance, commonly referred to as INIs.
According to the matrix, India’s MBBS intake outside INIs has increased by 9,911 seats, taking the total approved intake from 1,27,028 to 1,36,939 seats.
The seat matrix was prepared by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board of the NMC and was issued through a public notice dated 14 July 2026. The figures are based on the position available as of 13 July 2026 and may be revised following decisions of the Appeal Committee or another competent authority.
Key Highlights of the MBBS Seat Increase
The major figures from the NMC seat matrix are:
| Particulars | Government | Private | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of medical colleges | 441 | 382 | 823 |
| Seats renewed | 61,185 | 65,843 | 1,27,028 |
| Seats increased | 2,111 | 7,800 | 9,911 |
| Total seats for 2026–27 | 63,296 | 73,643 | 1,36,939 |
The increase of 9,911 seats represents approximately a 7.8% rise over the renewed intake of 1,27,028 seats.
However, the expansion is significantly higher in private medical colleges:
- Government seats increased by 2,111
- Private seats increased by 7,800
- Around 78.7% of the total increase has come from private medical colleges
- Around 21.3% of the increase has come from government medical colleges
The official matrix therefore shows that the majority of newly added MBBS opportunities for 2026–27 are in the private sector.
Total MBBS Seats for 2026–27, Excluding INIs
The NMC matrix lists a total of 1,36,939 MBBS seats across 823 medical colleges, excluding INIs.
These seats are distributed as follows:
Government medical colleges
- Number of colleges: 441
- Renewed seats: 61,185
- Increased seats: 2,111
- Total seats: 63,296
Private medical colleges
- Number of colleges: 382
- Renewed seats: 65,843
- Increased seats: 7,800
- Total seats: 73,643
After the increase, private institutions account for approximately 53.8% of the total listed MBBS intake, while government institutions account for approximately 46.2%.
It is important to understand that these numbers represent the approved institutional intake. They are not the same as the number of seats available under a single quota or counselling authority.
The seats will subsequently be distributed among applicable categories such as:
- All India Quota
- State Quota
- Government quota in private colleges
- Management quota
- Minority quota
- Institutional quota
- NRI quota
- Other state- or institution-specific categories
Candidates must wait for the final MCC and state counselling seat matrices to understand how many seats will be available under each quota.
25 New Medical Colleges Added for 2026–27
A major part of the increase comes from the establishment of new medical colleges.
According to the NMC note, the 2026–27 matrix includes 2,400 MBBS seats across 25 newly established medical colleges.
The new colleges are divided as follows:
| Type of college | New colleges | New MBBS seats |
|---|---|---|
| Government medical colleges | 7 | 400 |
| Private medical colleges | 18 | 2,000 |
| Total | 25 | 2,400 |
Therefore, out of the overall increase of 9,911 seats:
- 2,400 seats belong to newly established colleges
- The remaining 7,511 seats, based on the matrix totals, represent increases in the intake capacity of existing colleges
The NMC notice confirms that the matrix includes both approvals for new MBBS colleges and approvals for increased intake in existing institutions.
State-Wise MBBS Seat Increase for 2026–27
The increase is not distributed equally across all states. A few states account for a substantial portion of the additional intake.
States with the highest seat increases
| Rank | State | Government seats increased | Private seats increased | Total increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karnataka | 150 | 1,150 | 1,300 |
| 2 | Tamil Nadu | 150 | 800 | 950 |
| 3 | Rajasthan | 0 | 900 | 900 |
| 4 | West Bengal | 325 | 500 | 825 |
| 5 | Telangana | 110 | 700 | 810 |
| 6 | Uttar Pradesh | 0 | 800 | 800 |
| 7 | Bihar | 190 | 550 | 740 |
| 8 | Madhya Pradesh | 120 | 300 | 420 |
| 9 | Maharashtra | 50 | 350 | 400 |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh | 225 | 150 | 375 |
Karnataka has recorded the largest increase, with 1,300 additional seats. Of these, 1,150 are in private institutions and 150 are in government institutions.
Tamil Nadu follows with 950 additional seats, while Rajasthan has received an increase of 900 seats, all within the private category according to the state-wise matrix.
West Bengal has one of the largest government-sector increases, with 325 additional government seats and 500 additional private seats.
State-Wise Total MBBS Seats After the Increase
Some of the states with the highest overall MBBS intake for 2026–27 are:
| State | Total medical colleges | Renewed seats | Increased seats | Total MBBS seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 75 | 14,095 | 1,300 | 15,395 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 88 | 13,200 | 800 | 14,000 |
| Tamil Nadu | 78 | 13,049 | 950 | 13,999 |
| Maharashtra | 86 | 12,699 | 400 | 13,099 |
| Telangana | 66 | 9,440 | 810 | 10,250 |
| Rajasthan | 51 | 7,180 | 900 | 8,080 |
| Gujarat | 42 | 7,550 | 200 | 7,750 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 40 | 7,090 | 375 | 7,465 |
| West Bengal | 41 | 6,375 | 825 | 7,200 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 34 | 5,600 | 420 | 6,020 |
Karnataka now has the highest listed intake in the matrix, with 15,395 seats. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of colleges at 88 and a total intake of 14,000 seats.
Tamil Nadu is close behind with 13,999 seats across 78 institutions, while Maharashtra has 13,099 seats across 86 institutions.
What Does the Increase Mean for NEET UG Candidates?
The addition of 9,911 seats is positive news for NEET UG aspirants, but candidates must understand its practical implications carefully.
More college options
The increase will create additional options during MCC and state counselling. Candidates may see new colleges and expanded intake capacities while filling their preferences.
Private colleges account for most of the increase
Out of the 9,911 additional seats, 7,800 are in private colleges. Therefore, the increase does not mean that all candidates will suddenly have access to low-fee government MBBS seats.
Students and parents must evaluate:
- Tuition fees
- Hostel and mess charges
- Security deposits
- State-specific fee structures
- Management quota costs
- NRI quota fees
- Course discontinuation penalties
Cutoffs may change, but a large fall is not guaranteed
An increase in seats can provide more admission opportunities and may influence closing ranks. However, the final cutoff will depend on several factors:
- Number of NEET-qualified candidates
- Candidate preferences
- College reputation
- Government or private ownership
- Fee structure
- Location
- Reservation category
- Quota type
- Number of counselling rounds
- Seat conversion rules
A seat increase at a high-fee private medical college may not affect the government college cutoff in the same way as an increase in government seats.
State-wise impact will vary
States such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have received comparatively larger increases.
Candidates eligible for counselling in these states may have more options, particularly under private and management quota categories.
However, domicile rules, state eligibility conditions and reservation policies will continue to apply to the relevant seat categories.
Does This Mean 9,911 New Government MBBS Seats?
No.
Only 2,111 of the 9,911 additional seats are in government medical colleges. The remaining 7,800 seats are in private medical colleges.
Therefore, candidates should avoid interpreting the announcement as an addition of nearly 10,000 low-fee government seats.
The actual financial impact depends on:
- Whether the seat belongs to a government or private institution
- The quota through which it is offered
- The state’s fee regulations
- Whether it is a government, management or NRI seat
- The college’s approved tuition and additional charges
Are the New Seat Numbers Final?
The NMC has clearly stated that the seat matrix may be revised if required following decisions by the Appeal Committee or another competent authority.
Any revised matrix will be uploaded to the NMC website and must then be considered by central and state counselling committees for admission purposes.
Candidates should therefore avoid relying on the initial matrix alone while preparing their final choice list.
They should check:
- The latest revised NMC seat matrix
- The MCC counselling seat matrix
- The relevant state counselling seat matrix
- The approved fee structure
- The final college-wise and quota-wise seat distribution
Special Requirement for Approved Private Medical Colleges
Private medical colleges approved for a new MBBS programme or an increase in intake have been directed to submit the required electronic bank guarantee to MARB within seven days of the public notice.
The Letter of Permission is to be issued only after the bank guarantee has been received and found to be in order.
This condition is important because an entry in the provisional seat matrix should not be treated as the only confirmation candidates need. Students should verify that the institution appears in the final counselling matrix before including it in their choices.
Colleges Cannot Admit Students Beyond the Approved Intake
The NMC has instructed colleges to admit students only against the officially approved intake for 2026–27.
Admissions made beyond the approved capacity would be treated as a violation of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 and the applicable regulations, with possible regulatory and penal action against the institution.
Candidates should never accept an admission offer that:
- Is outside official NEET counselling
- Exceeds the college’s approved intake
- Does not appear in the final seat matrix
- Is offered without proper allotment documentation
- Requires payment for a supposedly unlisted or additional seat
Frequently Asked Questions
How many MBBS seats have increased for 2026–27?
A total of 9,911 seats have been added to the NMC MBBS matrix, excluding INIs.
What is the total MBBS intake after the increase?
The total listed intake is 1,36,939 seats across 823 colleges, excluding INIs.
How many government MBBS seats have increased?
Government medical college intake has increased by 2,111 seats, taking the government total to 63,296.
How many private MBBS seats have increased?
Private medical college intake has increased by 7,800 seats, taking the private total to 73,643.
How many new medical colleges have been added?
The matrix includes 25 newly established medical colleges—seven government and 18 private institutions.
How many seats are available in the new colleges?
The 25 new colleges account for 2,400 seats, including 400 government seats and 2,000 private seats.
Which state has received the highest increase?
Karnataka has the highest increase, with 1,300 additional seats.
Does the seat increase include INIs?
No. The matrix specifically excludes seats belonging to Institutes of National Importance.
Will the NEET cutoff decrease because of the increase?
The additional seats may affect closing ranks, but a decrease is not guaranteed. Cutoffs will depend on the quota, category, fees, college demand and candidate preferences.
Can the seat matrix be revised?
Yes. NMC has stated that the matrix remains subject to revision based on appeals or decisions by another competent authority.
Conclusion
The addition of 9,911 MBBS seats for the 2026–27 academic session is an important development for NEET UG aspirants.
The total intake outside INIs has increased from 1,27,028 to 1,36,939 seats. However, candidates should note that most of the expansion has occurred in private institutions:
- 2,111 additional government seats
- 7,800 additional private seats
- 25 newly established medical colleges
- 2,400 seats in new institutions
- 7,511 additional seats through increased intake in existing institutions
While the expansion will provide more admission opportunities, candidates must evaluate the actual quota, fees, counselling authority, domicile conditions and college quality before making a decision.
The NMC matrix is also subject to revision. Students should use the final MCC or state counselling seat matrix—not only the initial NMC announcement—while filling and locking their college choices.