NEET UG 2025: National Medical Commission approves over 9,000 additional MBBS seats

Published on: 26 December 2025

In a major boost for medical aspirants, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved over 9,000 additional MBBS seats for the NEET UG 2025–26 academic session. With this expansion, the total number of MBBS seats across India has increased to approximately 1,26,600, excluding institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER.

The increase comes after multiple revisions of the NEET UG seat matrix, as the NMC reviewed seat approvals, renewals, and compliance status of medical colleges nationwide. The newly sanctioned 9,075 MBBS seats are spread across several states, with notable increases in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, where many medical colleges have been permitted to raise their intake or start new MBBS programs.

For instance, Santhiram Medical College in Andhra Pradesh has expanded its intake from 150 to 250 seats, while Anna Gowri Medical College and Hospital has received approval to admit its first batch of 150 MBBS students. However, some institutions, such as Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Delhi, have seen a reduction in seats due to regulatory and administrative reasons.

Earlier in the year, the NMC had added and withdrawn seats in phases due to pending court cases, delayed approvals, and renewal issues. These changes align with the Union Government’s plan to add 10,000 MBBS seats under Phase 3 of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to strengthen medical education infrastructure across the country.

This significant seat increase is expected to ease competition in NEET UG 2025, provide more admission opportunities to deserving candidates, and support India’s long-term goal of improving healthcare access by producing more qualified doctors.