NEET UG: NMC adds 13,186 medical seats, total now at 1.4 lakh; highest in Karnataka

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has published the provisional results of the second round of NEET UG 2026 counselling, covering MBBS and BDS seats under the All‑India Quota and other MCC‑managed seats. Simultaneously, the National Medical Commission (NMC) announced that it has sanctioned an extra 13,186 MBBS seats across 27 states and Union Territories, bringing the national seat matrix to a total of 1,40,214 seats.

The seat expansion includes a 1,650‑seat increase for Karnataka, taking its count to 15,745 seats across 76 medical colleges, the highest state‑wise addition. Tamil Nadu added 1,250 seats to reach 14,299, while Bihar and Uttar Pradesh each gained more than 1,200 seats (1,240 and 1,200 respectively). These four states together account for 5,340 of the new seats. Seven Union Territories and states—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Delhi, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland—recorded no change. Smaller increments were noted in Himachal Pradesh (1 seat), Manipur (25 seats), Chandigarh, Goa, Punjab and Tripura (50 each), and Assam, Odisha and Sikkur (100 each). The NMC also directed counselling authorities to refer any matrix discrepancies to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) and prohibited admissions beyond the approved numbers.

The expanded seat matrix is intended to widen access to medical education ahead of the upcoming admission cycle, directly affecting NEET aspirants and medical colleges nationwide. By increasing capacity, the NMC aims to address doctor shortages and improve regional healthcare infrastructure, while the MARB oversight ensures that the allocation remains transparent and within regulatory limits.