In short
After MCC’s NEET UG 2026 stray vacancy round, 837 MBBS seats were still unfilled across India, 824 of them in deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, according to MCC sources quoted by PTI (22 October). Reporting for stray allottees closed on 26 October. As reported by Careers360 and carried by Medical Dialogues (26 October), some private and deemed colleges in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan are now offering tuition cuts of up to 40%. Update: MCC has now announced a special stray vacancy round for MBBS (registration 2–4 November, result 7 November). These seats are filled only through it, so do not pay anyone promising one.
Updated 31 October 2026. The special stray round is from MCC’s schedule notice dated 30 October 2026, read in the PDF copy published by Medical Dialogues, and reported by Medical Dialogues and Education Bytes (31 October); both also report around 2,000 MBBS seats vacant nationwide. Earlier update, 27 October: The 837 and 824 figures appear in the PTI report carried by Careers360 (22 October) and Telangana Today (22 October), and in Medical Dialogues (23 October), all citing MCC sources. The fee-cut report, the 3,426 seats vacant after Round 3 and the 802 comparison for 2025 are from a Careers360 report as summarised by Medical Dialogues (26 October); we could not open the Careers360 original, so treat them as reported. The college-wise numbers and the ₹21–24 lakh fees are reported only by Medical Dialogues, which credits India Today. Check mcc.nic.in and the college’s own fee notice before you pay.
Where the 837 seats are
| Where | Vacant MBBS seats | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| Deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry | 824 | PTI, Medical Dialogues |
| Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Kolar (Karnataka) | 12 | Medical Dialogues |
| AIIMS Madurai | 1 | Medical Dialogues |
| Total | 837 | PTI, Medical Dialogues |
Colleges with the most vacant seats
Medical Dialogues, citing India Today, names four deemed colleges. Together they account for 479 of the 824 seats; it does not break down the rest.
| College | Vacant seats | Yearly tuition, as reported |
|---|---|---|
| Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai (Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth) | 188 | ₹21,00,000 |
| Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute, Kancheepuram | 117 | ₹23,00,000 (2025-26 brochure) |
| Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, Puducherry | 92 | ₹24,00,000 |
| Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai | 82 | Not given |
Fees are tuition only. Medical Dialogues puts the full yearly cost, with hostel and mess, at ₹21 lakh to ₹30 lakh. A counsellor quoted by PTI says deemed universities in the two states charge ₹25 lakh to ₹35 lakh a year, plus ₹1.2 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh for hostel and mess, against an average of about ₹17 lakh at other private colleges in India. These are reported figures; the college’s own fee notice is the one that counts. Our hidden costs guide shows what gets added on top.
Why the seats are empty
Both reports give the same reason: deemed universities have no fee cap, so many candidates with high scores who cannot pay these fees do not choose them. In Medical Dialogues’ words, a lower scorer who can afford the fee applies and gets the seat. An educationist quoted by PTI criticised NEET for failing to curb the commercialisation of medical education. That is his view, as reported.
Fee cuts of up to 40% are being reported
Medical Dialogues, citing a Careers360 report, says private medical colleges and deemed universities in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan are offering concessions of up to 40% on MBBS tuition to fill vacant seats, and that some colleges are giving written fee-reduction agreements. Counsellors quoted in the report call such discounts unusual for MBBS. The same report says 3,426 MBBS seats were vacant after MCC Round 3 this year, against 802 at the same stage in 2025, and links the rise to new colleges and seats (NMC added 13,636 MBBS seats this year) and higher deemed university fees.
- A concession is not a seat. MBBS seats are still allotted only through official counselling. A discount offered with a seat “outside counselling” is a red flag.
- Get it from the college, in writing, on its letterhead, and check that it covers all years of the course, not just the first.
- Never pay a concession “booking amount” to an agent. Use our verification checklist first.
Will there be another round?
Yes. MCC’s schedule dated 30 October 2026 sets a special stray vacancy round for MBBS: registration and payment from 2 November to 3 PM on 4 November, choice locking to 11 AM on 5 November, result on 7 November and reporting by 5 PM on 16 November. Medical Dialogues and Education Bytes report around 2,000 MBBS seats vacant across India. The notice does not state eligibility or the seat matrix, so check mcc.nic.in. Full dates: MCC special stray round 2026. Regular stray reporting closed on 26 October (MCC stray round result and rules).
What this means if your score is low
- Vacancy is not admission. Deemed seats are filled only through MCC counselling. Anyone offering one of these 824 seats for money outside MCC is not offering a real seat.
- Budget for five years, not one. At ₹21 lakh to ₹24 lakh a year in tuition alone, the course comes close to ₹1 crore before hostel and mess. Compare with lower-fee private colleges.
- Know the deposit. MCC takes ₹2,00,000 for deemed choices, forfeited if you do not join a stray seat.
What to do in the next 7 days
- Register for the special stray round by 3 PM on 4 November if MCC’s eligibility notice covers you; lock choices by 11 AM on 5 November.
- Check each college’s fee sheet and our deemed universities guide before you decide whether you could pay.
- Use the verification checklist before paying any college or agent.
- Compare deemed and state options in our deemed vs open-state guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many MBBS seats are vacant after the MCC stray round 2026?
837, according to MCC sources quoted by PTI (22 October) and Medical Dialogues (23 October). 824 of them are in deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Will MCC hold another round for these seats?
Yes. MCC announced a special stray vacancy round for MBBS on 30 October 2026: registration 2–4 November, result 7 November, reporting by 16 November.
Are private medical colleges cutting MBBS fees in 2026?
As reported by Careers360 and carried by Medical Dialogues on 26 October, some private and deemed colleges in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Rajasthan are offering up to 40% off tuition. Get any concession from the college in writing and still take the seat only through counselling.
Which colleges have the most vacant MBBS seats?
As reported by Medical Dialogues citing India Today: Shri Sathya Sai Medical College, Chennai (188), Meenakshi Medical College, Kancheepuram (117), MGMCRI, Puducherry (92) and Sree Balaji Medical College, Chennai (82).
Why are deemed university MBBS seats vacant?
Both reports point to high fees with no fee cap, so many high scorers do not pick these colleges.
Can I get one of these seats directly from the college?
No. Deemed university MBBS seats are allotted only through MCC counselling. Treat any offer outside it as a red flag.
Sources
- Medical Dialogues — MCC announces special stray vacancy round schedule, registrations from November 2 (31 October 2026)
- Education Bytes — NEET UG 2026: MCC announces special stray vacancy round for MBBS seats (31 October 2026)
- MCC/DGHS — Special stray vacancy round schedule (notice dated 30 October 2026, PDF copy)
- Careers360 (PTI) — Over 800 MBBS seats remain vacant in deemed universities across TN, Puducherry amid high fees (22 October 2026)
- Medical Dialogues — 837 MBBS seats remain vacant after MCC NEET stray vacancy round counselling 2026 (23 October 2026)
- Medical Dialogues — NEET UG 2026: Private Medical Colleges Cut MBBS Fees by Up to 40 percent Amid Rising Seat Vacancies (26 October 2026)
- Telangana Today (PTI) — 824 MBBS seats remain vacant in deemed universities after NEET UG counselling (22 October 2026)
- MCC — Medical Counselling Committee (check the live notice)
NEET 2026 counselling support
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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
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