The National Medical Commission (NMC) has revised the MBBS seat matrix for the 2026-27 academic year, adding 13,636 MBBS seats across medical colleges in India. With the latest additions, the total number of approved MBBS seats has reached 1,40,664 across 839 medical colleges, excluding Institutes of National Importance. The revised matrix was notified by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) on September 22nd.

The updated figures are relevant to the ongoing NEET UG 2026 counselling process, as candidates will need to refer to the latest approved seat matrix while assessing college-wise and state-wise options.

Key changes in the medical education sector

• Government and private seats: The revised matrix includes 64,121 seats in government medical colleges and 76,543 seats in private institutions
• New medical colleges: A total of 3,850 MBBS seats have been added across 41 newly established medical colleges
• State-wise additions: Karnataka recorded the highest increase with 1,650 seats, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,250 and Uttar Pradesh with 1,200 seats. Rajasthan and Telangana added 1,100 and 1,060 seats, respectively
• Further revisions: The NMC has stated that the seat matrix may be revised further following decisions by relevant appeal committees or other competent authorities

Implications for medical education

The increase in approved seats adds another significant development to India's expanding medical education sector. It also highlights the continued expansion of institutional capacity and the need for updated information during the counselling and admission cycle.

EducationToday tracks such developments across schools, higher education and professional education, with a focus on changes affecting institutions, students and the wider education industry. TopEducationNews also brings attention to major regulatory and admission-related announcements that influence the sector.

Candidates participating in counselling should check the latest NMC-approved seat matrix before making admission-related decisions, as college- and state-wise availability can change with subsequent updates.