For lakhs of NEET UG aspirants, the number of government MBBS seats in India 2026 decides how tough this year’s admission race really is. The National Medical Commission has just released the official seat matrix for the 2026-27 academic session, and with counselling around the corner following this year’s NEET UG 2026 re-exam , students and parents want one thing: a clear, state-wise picture of where the government seats actually are. This guide breaks down the complete matrix, state by state, so you can plan your counselling strategy with facts rather than guesswork.
Government MBBS Seats in India 2026: Total Overview
According to the National Medical Commission (NMC)‘s Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB), India will have 823 medical colleges for the 2026-27 session, 441 government and 382 private, offering a combined 1,36,939 MBBS seats. Of these, government medical college seats account for 63,296 seats across those 441 colleges, while private colleges offer the remaining 73,643. That’s about 2,111 more government seats than last year, added through new colleges and capacity increases at existing ones, and it makes government MBBS seats in India 2026 more plentiful than in any year before it, though demand still vastly outstrips supply.
These 63,296 seats don’t include the Institutes of National Importance (INIs), AIIMS and JIPMER, which are counted separately. India’s AIIMS campuses together offer around 2,257 MBBS seats, and JIPMER (Puducherry and Karaikal) adds another 243, taking the realistic total of government-run MBBS seats to roughly 65,800 nationally. Every one of these, including AIIMS and JIPMER, is filled only through NEET UG; there is no management quota.
State-Wise MBBS Seats in India 2026: Complete Government Seat Matrix
Here is the complete state-wise MBBS seats matrix for government medical colleges, based on the MBBS seat matrix 2026 by the NMC on 14 July 2026. Use it to check exactly how many government seats your home state offers before you begin choice-filling.
| State / UT | Government MBBS Seats (2026-27) |
| Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 114 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 3,515 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 100 |
| Assam | 1,875 |
| Bihar | 1,710 |
| Chandigarh | 200 |
| Chhattisgarh | 1,725 |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | 177 |
| Delhi | 1,165 |
| Goa | 250 |
| Gujrat | 4,250 |
| Haryana | 1,060 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 721 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 1,525 |
| Jharkhand | 800 |
| Karnataka | 4,400 |
| Kerala | 1,855 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 3,020 |
| Maharashtra | 6,000 |
| Manipur | 400 |
| Meghalaya | 100 |
| Mizoram | 100 |
| Nagaland | 100 |
| Odisha | 1,850 |
| Punducherry | 180 |
| Punjab | 900 |
| Rajashtan | 4,480 |
| Sikkam | 100 |
| Tamil Nadu | 5,349 |
| Telangana | 4,400 |
| Tripura | 200 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 5,700 |
| Uttrakhand | 625 |
| West Bengal | 4,350 |
| All-India Total | 63,296 |
Note: This matrix excludes AIIMS, JIPMER, and other Institutes of National Importance, and remains subject to minor revisions before final counselling. Always cross-check your state’s numbers on the official NMC website or your State Directorate of Medical Education before locking your choices.
States With the Highest Government MBBS Seats in 2026
These numbers matter because government MBBS seats in India 2026 are heavily concentrated in a handful of large states:
- Maharashtra – 6,000 seats
- Uttar Pradesh – 5,700 seats
- Tamil Nadu – 5,349 seats
- Rajasthan – 4,480 seats
- Karnataka – 4,400 seats
- Telangana – 4,400 seats
- West Bengal – 4,350 seats
- Gujarat – 4,250 seats
- Andhra Pradesh – 3,515 seats
- Madhya Pradesh – 3,020 seats
If your NEET UG 2026 score is competitive but not table-topping, these larger states are usually where State Quota and AIQ movement is highest across counselling rounds. Smaller states and the North-East have far fewer seats but also far less competition among domicile candidates, worth factoring into your preference list. Many students in this situation also work on sharpening their NEET UG 2026 preparation strategy to push for a state with more seats, rather than assuming their home state is their only shot.
NEET 2026 Counselling Process for Government MBBS Seats
NEET 2026 counselling for these government MBBS seats runs through two parallel tracks, exactly as it does every year:
- All India Quota (AIQ) – 15%: Conducted centrally by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). This covers 15% of seats in every state government medical college, plus 100% of seats in AIIMS, JIPMER, central and deemed universities, and ESIC/AFMS institutes.
- State Quota – 85%: Conducted separately by each state’s own counselling authority, for candidates who meet that state’s domicile requirements.
Both tracks generally run four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, a Mop-Up round, and a Stray Vacancy round, with AIQ seats left vacant after Round 2 returning to the state pool. This year’s cycle is running later than usual because the original NEET UG 2026 exam was cancelled and re-conducted; results were declared on 16 July 2026, and MCC counselling is expected to open in early August 2026.
Keep an eye on the latest NEET UG 2026 updates for exact registration dates once MCC confirms them. All government MBBS seats in India 2026, state and central alike, are ultimately filled through this same NEET UG-based process, so a valid, ranked NEET UG 2026 score is non-negotiable for every seat in this matrix.
Conclusion
The government MBBS seats in India 2026 picture is more favourable than it has been in years, with 63,296 seats across 441 colleges and nearly 10,000 new seats added nationwide this year. Still, with lakhs of NEET UG candidates chasing a limited number of seats in each state, a good rank alone doesn’t guarantee a government seat close to home. Use the state-wise matrix above to set realistic expectations, shortlist colleges within your state and category, and keep a backup plan ready. If your rank doesn’t line up with a government seat this year, it’s worth exploring MBBS abroad after NEET 2026 as a genuine, NMC-recognised alternative rather than settling for an expensive private management-quota seat.
FAQs
How many government MBBS seats are there in India in 2026?
As per the NMC’s 2026-27 seat matrix, India has 63,296 government MBBS seats across 441 government medical colleges, not counting AIIMS and JIPMER.
What is the total number of MBBS seats in India for 2026-27?
The total is 1,36,939 MBBS seats across 823 medical colleges, 441 government and 382 private, for the 2026-27 academic session.
Which state has the most government MBBS seats in 2026?
Maharashtra leads with 6,000 government MBBS seats, followed by Uttar Pradesh (5,700) and Tamil Nadu (5,349).
What is the difference between AIQ and State Quota?
All India Quota (AIQ) covers 15% of government seats and is counselled centrally by the MCC; the remaining 85%, the State Quota, is counselled by each state for candidates meeting its domicile rules.
Are AIIMS and JIPMER seats included in this seat matrix?
No. AIIMS (around 2,257 seats) and JIPMER (243 seats) are Institutes of National Importance and are counted separately from the 63,296-seat state matrix, though both are filled through NEET UG.
When will NEET UG 2026 counselling begin?
MCC counselling is expected to begin in early August 2026, after NEET UG 2026 results were declared on 16 July 2026.