MBBS seats in India 2026–27: a state-by-state look at the NMC seat matrix

India’s MBBS intake for 2026–27 stands at 1,40,664 seats across 839 medical colleges, according to the National Medical Commission’s seat matrix published on 21 Sept 2026. Here is where those seats are, who runs the colleges that offer them, and how the figure moved during the year.

1,40,664

MBBS seats, 2026–27

839

medical colleges

34

states and UTs with seats

Where the seats are

Karnataka has the most MBBS seats — 15,745, or 11.2% of the national total — followed by Uttar Pradesh (14,400) and Tamil Nadu (14,299). The five largest states together hold 48.6% of all seats, which is why so many students end up looking beyond their home state.

Every state name above opens that state’s page, with the full college-by-college list. The average college in the matrix admits about 168 MBBS students a year, but intake ranges widely from one college to the next.

Government or private?

Private colleges account for the largest share of seats — 54.4%. Government colleges follow with 45.6%. The split matters because fees, counselling routes and quotas differ sharply between government, private and deemed colleges.

Why the number changed during the year

NMC first published the 2026–27 matrix on 14 Jul 2026 with 1,36,939 seats in 823 colleges. The revised matrix lists 1,40,664 seats in 839 colleges — +3,725 seats and +16 colleges. Revisions like this are normal while new colleges and seat increases are approved for the year.

The Knowledge Centre always shows the latest version and keeps earlier ones as labelled history — figures from the two versions are never added together.

What the matrix does — and doesn’t — tell you

NMC’s matrix is the approved intake: how many students each college may admit this year. It does not say how those seats are counselled. In government colleges, 15% of MBBS seats are filled through the Medical Counselling Committee’s All India Quota and the rest through the state’s own counselling; deemed universities, central universities, AIIMS and JIPMER are counselled by MCC as described in its NEET (UG) 2026 information bulletin (opens the official site). So the right question isn’t only “how many seats are there?” but “how many of them can I compete for?” — your state, category and quota decide that.

Next: see the full seat matrix, filter the college directory, or check round-wise closing ranks.