The National Medical Commission (NMC) has added 11,500 new MBBS seats for the 2025-26 academic year, increasing the total medical seats in India to 1,29,025 . This update coincides with the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) extending the deadline for NEET UG 2025 counselling choice submission to October 16, 2024, at 4 pm . Round 3 seat allotment is scheduled for October 18 .
Increased Medical Seat Availability
The NMC, India’s apex regulatory body for medical education, revised the NEET UG seat matrix for both MBBS and BDS admissions. This expansion aims to create more educational opportunities for students pursuing medical careers. The increase in seats is significant for addressing the nation’s healthcare professional demand.
The updated total of 1,29,025 medical seats applies specifically to admissions for the 2025-26 academic session. This count does not include seats available in autonomous institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER).
This addition marks a substantial rise from the 1,17,750 MBBS seats available in the previous academic year. The growth stems from approvals for establishing new medical colleges and increasing sanctioned seats within existing medical institutions across the country.
NEET UG 2025 Counselling Updates
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which oversees NEET UG counselling, recently extended the period for candidates to submit their preferred courses and colleges. The new deadline for this crucial step in the admission process is now October 16, 2024, at 4 pm .
While the MCC has not officially stated the reason for the extension, it is widely believed to accommodate the recently added MBBS seats. Candidates must finalize their choices before this revised deadline.
Following the choice filling phase, the results for the NEET UG 2025 Round 3 seat allotment are set for declaration on October 18 . This allotment process matches eligible candidates with available seats based on their NEET rank and submitted preferences. Students must monitor the official MCC website for the exact release time and further instructions regarding document verification and college reporting.
Immediate Seat Additions for Round 3
The MCC issued an urgent notice on October 15 , confirming the immediate addition of 58 MBBS seats specifically for the third round of counselling. These seats are now available to current counselling participants.
The added seats are distributed as follows:
- Eight All India Quota (AIQ) seats at Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Medical College, Coochbehar.
- Forty-three paid seats at Sri Siddhartha Medical College DU, Tumkur.
- Seven Non-Resident Indian (NRI) seats at Sri Siddhartha Medical College DU, Tumkur.
The All India Quota (AIQ) allows eligible candidates from any state to compete for 15% of MBBS seats in government medical colleges nationwide. NRI seats are reserved for candidates of Indian origin residing abroad or those sponsored by an NRI.
For the ongoing third counselling round, 363 candidates have been declared eligible for admission under the NRI quota. These candidates meet specific criteria for this category and can participate in the NRI seat allotment process.
Website Status and Future Announcements
The official MCC website experienced temporary downtime recently. This event led to speculation among candidates. Students awaiting counselling dates for NEET PG 2025 admissions also anticipate that officials may be updating the website to announce their admission schedule and information brochure.
As of now, the MCC has not released official dates or detailed information regarding NEET PG 2025 counselling. Both UG and PG medical admission candidates must rely solely on official communications from the MCC and NMC for accurate updates.
Regularly checking the official MCC and NMC websites is essential for all applicants to avoid misinformation and ensure timely completion of their admission formalities.