NMC Adds Over 13,000 MBBS Seats, Total Intake Tops 1.4 Lakh

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved a significant expansion in undergraduate medical education for the 2026-27 academic year, with more than 13,000 additional MBBS seats being added across medical colleges in India.

The latest expansion takes the approved undergraduate medical intake to more than 1.4 lakh seats, offering additional opportunities to students seeking admission through NEET UG counselling.

The updated seat matrix covers MBBS courses in medical colleges other than Institutes of National Importance (INIs). NMC has been issuing and updating the undergraduate seat matrix as approvals for new medical colleges and increases in the annual intake of existing institutions are granted.

NMC MBBS Seat Matrix 2026-27: Key Update

According to the updated figures cited for September 1, 2026, the total approved MBBS intake has reached 1,40,214 seats across 836 medical colleges, excluding INIs. The increase includes seats approved through the establishment of new medical colleges as well as enhanced intake capacity at existing institutions.

The expansion comes at a crucial time as NEET UG 2026 counselling for the 2026-27 academic session is in progress. The availability of additional seats could provide more options to eligible candidates during the ongoing admission process.

Why Has NMC Increased MBBS Seats?

The increase in MBBS seats reflects approvals granted for new medical institutions and permission to increase the annual intake of existing colleges. NMC's official website maintains the undergraduate seat matrix and information on medical colleges offering MBBS programmes.

Additional seats can help expand the country's undergraduate medical education capacity and provide NEET UG candidates with a larger pool of institutions during counselling.

Impact on NEET UG Counselling 2026

The increase in approved MBBS seats is particularly relevant for candidates participating in NEET UG counselling 2026. Newly approved or increased seats can be incorporated into counselling seat matrices, subject to the applicable counselling authority and admission process.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is already publishing updated seat-related information for the 2026 UG counselling process, including newly added seats and round-wise seat matrices.

Candidates should therefore regularly check the latest MCC seat matrix before filling or revising their choices. Seat availability can change between counselling rounds as institutions report vacancies and additional seats are incorporated.

NEET UG candidates should not assume that every newly approved MBBS seat will be available in every counselling round. The actual seats offered to candidates depend on the official counselling seat matrix and the approvals applicable to individual colleges.

Students should verify the college name, annual intake, category-wise availability and other admission details before locking their choices.

The NMC's updated MBBS seat matrix represents a substantial expansion in medical education capacity for the 2026-27 session. With NEET UG counselling underway, the additional seats could widen the range of options available to candidates seeking MBBS admission across the country.