NMC approves record 20,098 new MBBS, PG medical seats, 777 after initial rejection

The National Medical Commission (NMC) approved as many as 777 new postgraduation (PG) medical seats after initial rejection, as a record 20,098 additional undergraduate and PG slots were greenlit for the current academic year, shows the data presented by the union ministry of health and family welfare (MoHFW) in parliament.

The new seats bring a whopping 10% single-year increase over the around 1.92 lakh intake in medical in 2024-25, marking an unprecedented acceleration in the growth of the combined training capacity at the institutions around the country.

The data was revealed by Anupriya Patel, the minister of state for health, in response to queries from Rajya Sabha members Javed Ali Khan (Samajwadi Party) and M Thambidurai (AIADMK).

As earlier reported by Careers360, medical colleges, courses and seat approvals – all of which have contributed to this expansion – have also caused massive delays in the actual medical admission process, at both UG and PG levels. While the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – NEET UG and NEET PG – have followed a more stable schedule in 2025, NEET counselling has been delayed massively. NEET UG counselling continued till November last year. and NEET PG counselling for last year’s admissions is still continuing in 2026.

Also read NMC to speed up NEET counselling with seat-approval calendar, allow for-profits to set up medical colleges

MBBS, PG Medical Courses: New seats, higher growth

With 8,416 new seats recognised for 2025-26, the PG medical courses registered a higher growth rate of 11.33% over 74,306 spots available in 2024-25. In the four previous years, the number of new seats never crossed the 5,000 mark.

Karnataka got the highest quantum of new PG seats – 1,328 – followed by Uttar Pradesh (1,034) and Tamil Nadu (905).

The MBBS intake, on the other hand, increased by 11,682 – the highest ever in absolute terms – taking the overall count of UG seats to 1,29,872.

New MBBS, PG seats over 5 years

The rapid expansion owes to the centre’s mission of adding 75,000 new medical seats over a five-year period, starting from 2024. NMC has also advocated having an equal number of UG and PG seats in place for the aspirants.

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MBBS, PG Medicine: Vacant medical college seats

The boom in medical education comes despite notable vacancies across the courses, though the count of empty seats has reduced.

Medical Colleges: Vacant MBBS, PG seats over 4 years

The ministry’s responses also indicate that many of the colleges got new PG seats approved after an initial denial by the commission. NMC’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), the body responsible for evaluating demands for new institutes and seats, had handed out 162 letters of disapproval (LoD) in the current recognition cycle due to insufficient documents as well as inadequate infrastructure, clinical material and faculty attendance.

Subsequently, 215 medical colleges filed first appeals before NMC, whose Appellate Committee heard 213 of these requests. While appeals of 76 colleges were rejected, 125 of them were granted 777 additional seats. The appeals of 12 medical colleges were referred to MARB, informed the ministry.