NEET UG 2026: Good News for NEET UG Candidates—Over 11,000 MBBS Seats Added; Check Details Here...

NEET UG 2026: There is good news regarding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for Undergraduate (UG) courses. Compared to last year, a greater number of students will be able to secure admission to MBBS programs this year. Specifically, there has been an increase in the number of MBBS seats for 2026, with over 11,000 additional seats being added. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has also updated this data on its official website. Furthermore, the Union Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel, shared this information regarding the increase in MBBS seats in Parliament.

Let us explore how many new medical colleges across the country have been granted recognition—a development that has led to the addition of over 11,000 MBBS seats. Additionally, we will look into the corresponding increase in postgraduate (PG) medical seats.

**Recognition Granted to 44 New Medical Colleges**
In the academic session 2025-26, 44 new medical colleges across the country were granted recognition; this information was shared in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel. Following the recognition of these new medical colleges, candidates will be able to seek admission to over 11,000 additional MBBS seats starting from the academic session 2026-27. Consequently, the total number of medical colleges in the country has risen from 780 to 824.

**What is the Total Number of MBBS Seats Now?**
The NMC has increased the number of MBBS seats by over 11,000, effective from the academic session 2025-26. Ultimately, this will prove beneficial for NEET UG candidates. They will no longer be deprived of admission within the country due to a shortage of MBBS seats. In other words, NEET UG candidates will now have the opportunity to pursue their MBBS studies right here in India. With the addition of over 11,000 MBBS seats, the total count of MBBS seats in the country has risen from 1,18,190 to 1,29,603. 

NEET PG Seats Also Increased
Citing data from the NMC, Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel informed the House that, alongside MBBS seats, there has also been an increase in medical postgraduate seats, amounting to an addition of 8,967 seats. The count of NEET PG seats includes those at institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and other Institutes of National Importance (INIs).

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