India’s medical education sector expanded significantly for the academic year 2025-26 . The total number of MBBS seats reached 1,29,026 . This marks the largest single-year increase in medical college admissions. The National Medical Commission (NMC) announced the final seat matrix, confirming 11,276 new seats were added this year.
The total MBBS seat count increased from 1,17,750 in 2024 to 1,29,026 for 2025. This expansion includes 3,300 new MBBS seats approved in new medical colleges. A substantial number of additional seats also came from existing medical institutions. These figures do not include 231 seats from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER).
The Union Cabinet approved this expansion. It sanctioned 10,000 undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) medical seats. This approval falls under Phase 3 of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
New Medical Colleges Across 19 States
Nineteen states and Union Territories (UTs) received approval for new medical colleges. These institutions contribute to the 3,300 new seats. Rajasthan secured the highest number of approvals. Six new medical colleges opened in Rajasthan, adding 500 MBBS seats. These colleges are located in cities including Jaisalmer, Jaipur, and Kota.
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra also saw significant growth. Madhya Pradesh gained four new medical colleges, adding 400 seats. Maharashtra received approval for four colleges, increasing its capacity by 300 seats. Bihar, Kerala, and West Bengal each secured approval for three new medical colleges.
Several other states received approvals for one or two new colleges. These include Assam, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.
State-Wise Seat Distribution
Karnataka currently holds the highest number of MBBS seats nationwide. It has 13,944 seats as of December 3, 2025. Following Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh has 13,425 seats. Tamil Nadu accounts for 13,050 seats, and Maharashtra has 12,824 seats. These numbers reflect the NMC’s updated seat matrix.
MBBS Seat Adjustments
The NMC’s final seat matrix also indicates seat withdrawals or conditional approvals for five medical colleges. Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Delhi, lost its 150 MBBS seats. This change resulted from a pending court case. In Gujarat, the addition of 50 new seats at Swaminarayan Institute of Medical Sciences and Research is provisional. It depends on the outcome of ongoing court and CBI cases.
Similarly, seat increases at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, and National Capital Region Institute of Medical Sciences, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, are on hold. These delays are due to pending legal matters. Conversely, Government Medical College Jammu added one supernumerary seat following a high court directive.
State-Wise MBBS Seat Matrix 2025-26
| State | MBBS Seat Matrix 2025-26 |
|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar | 114 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 7,215 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 100 |
| Assam | 1,975 |
| Bihar | 3,545 |
| Chandigarh | 150 |
| Chattisgarh | 2,455 |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli | 177 |
| Delhi | 1,396 |
| Goa | 200 |
| Gujarat | 7,525 |
| Haryana | 2,710 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 970 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 1,726 |
| Jharkhand | 1,255 |
| Karnataka | 13,944 |
| Kerala | 5,404 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 5,725 |
| Maharashtra | 12,824 |
| Manipur | 525 |
| Meghalaya | 200 |
| Mizoram | 100 |
| Nagaland | 100 |
| Odisha | 3,025 |
| Pondicherry | 1,873 |
| Punjab | 1,899 |
| Rajasthan | 7,330 |
| Sikkim | 150 |
| Tamil Nadu | 13,050 |
| Telangana | 9,540 |
| Tripura | 450 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 13,425 |
| Uttarakhand | 1,450 |
| West Bengal | 6,499 |
| Total | 1,29,026 |
Medical aspirants preparing for NEET UG 2026 can review these updated seat numbers. This information is crucial for planning future medical studies.