In short
NMC’s revised seat matrix for 2026-27 lists 1,40,664 MBBS seats in 839 colleges (excluding Institutes of National Importance such as AIIMS): 1,27,028 renewed and 13,636 added. Government colleges hold 64,121 seats and private colleges 76,543. The revision, reported from 21–23 September, adds 450 seats and three colleges to the matrix of 10 September (1,40,214 seats, 836 colleges), and counts 41 new colleges with 3,850 seats.
Updated 12 October 2026 with the revised matrix, as reported by Medical Dialogues and Careers360. The state-wise table further down still shows the 10 September matrix, so use it for the shape of the market and read the NMC PDF for a specific college.
The revised totals
| Colleges | Seats renewed | Seats added | Total seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government | 447 | 61,185 | 2,936 | 64,121 |
| Private | 392 | 65,843 | 10,700 | 76,543 |
| All colleges | 839 | 1,27,028 | 13,636 | 1,40,664 |
41 new colleges
The new colleges add 3,850 seats: 13 government colleges with 850 seats and 28 private colleges with 3,000. NMC again tells colleges to admit only against approved intake and warns of action under the NMC Act, 2019 for admissions above it. It also asks colleges and others to report discrepancies, and the matrix stays open to revision by competent authorities or appeal committees.
What changed from the 10 September matrix
| 10 Sept matrix | Revised matrix | |
|---|---|---|
| Total MBBS seats | 1,40,214 | 1,40,664 |
| Colleges | 836 | 839 |
| Seats added | 13,186 | 13,636 |
| Government seats | 63,971 | 64,121 |
| Private seats | 76,243 | 76,543 |
Earlier figures that circulated, such as 1,40,124 in one headline, were typing errors for the 10 September total.
The ten largest states by seats (10 September matrix)
| State | Colleges | Total seats | Added this year | Of which private |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 76 | 15,745 | 1,650 | 1,300 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 92 | 14,400 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Tamil Nadu | 78 | 14,299 | 1,250 | 1,100 |
| Maharashtra | 87 | 13,249 | 550 | 500 |
| Telangana | 66 | 10,450 | 1,010 | 900 |
| Rajasthan | 51 | 8,280 | 1,100 | 1,100 |
| Gujarat | 42 | 7,800 | 250 | 250 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 40 | 7,615 | 525 | 250 |
| West Bengal | 41 | 7,350 | 975 | 500 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 34 | 6,120 | 520 | 400 |
Bihar grew fastest in proportion: 3,420 renewed seats plus 1,240 added — 950 of them private — for a total of 4,660. Jharkhand went from 1,130 to 1,650 (11 colleges), of which 450 of the 520 added seats are private; the full Jharkhand list is here.
What it means for a candidate with a modest score
- More seats are not automatically lower cutoffs. A cutoff is set by how many candidates want a seat, not by how many seats exist. NTA reported 11.21 lakh candidates qualified this year, against about 1.4 lakh seats.
- The growth is where the fees are higher. Private colleges account for most of the added seats, and private seats are priced as private seats. A bigger private pool changes the mix of choices; it does not change what a private seat costs.
- New colleges carry new-college risk. Forty-one new colleges (28 private, 13 government) are counted in the revised matrix, and in the 10 September matrix their rows carried first-year intakes of 50 to 150. Verify each one before you fill choices for it — see our verification checklist.
- Admissions above the listed number are non-compliant. NMC’s notice says colleges must admit only against the approved seats, and counselling committees may not permit admission above them.
How to check your own college
Open the NMC seat matrix PDF, find your state’s table, and read the row for the college: its type (government or private), seats renewed, seats added and the total. If a college you are being offered is not in the matrix, do not pay it a rupee. The matrix is subject to revision by appeal committees, so re-check it before the round you are filling choices for.
Frequently asked questions
How many MBBS seats are there in India in 2026-27?
NMC’s revised matrix lists 1,40,664 MBBS seats in 839 colleges, excluding Institutes of National Importance such as AIIMS. An earlier matrix of 10 September listed 1,40,214 seats in 836 colleges.
How many MBBS seats are in government and private colleges?
Government colleges hold 64,121 seats (447 colleges) and private colleges 76,543 seats (392 colleges), per the revised matrix as reported.
How many new medical colleges are there for 2026-27?
41, with 3,850 seats: 13 government colleges (850 seats) and 28 private colleges (3,000 seats).
Are AIIMS seats included in the 1,40,664 figure?
No. The matrix excludes Institutes of National Importance, which include the AIIMS institutes and JIPMER.
Does a college have to be in the matrix for me to join it?
Check it, yes. If a college you are offered does not appear in NMC’s matrix, do not pay anything until you have verified it with NMC and the counselling authority.
Sources
- Medical Dialogues — NMC updates seat matrix to 1,40,664 seats
- Careers360 — NMC adds 13,636 MBBS seats
- CareerIndia — NMC MBBS seat matrix 2026-27 updated
- NMC seat matrix 2026-27 as on 1 Sept 2026 (PDF)
- Medical Dialogues — NMC releases seat matrix
- Shiksha — Revised MBBS seat matrix 2026-27
Related reading
NEET 2026 counselling support
See which of these seats your score can reach
Get a personalised list of NMC-approved private and deemed medical colleges matching your NEET score and budget.
Sources and how to verify this page
Cutoffs and fees on this page are compiled estimates for the 2026 cycle, not official figures. Every claim about eligibility, counselling process and legality can be checked against the primary sources below, and you should check them before acting.
- National Medical Commission — recognised colleges and seat matrix
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) — deemed and all-India quota
- National Testing Agency — NEET-UG results and percentiles
- UP DGME — Uttar Pradesh private MBBS counselling
- BCECEB — Bihar private MBBS counselling
Found something wrong? Report a correction — we publish what changed and when.