The initial step in planning a medical career in India is to be aware of the opportunities available, particularly the number of government MBBS seats. Knowledge of seat allocation, quotas, and admission requirements would enable aspirants to adopt a strategic approach to one of the most competitive exams in the country.

The total number of government MBBS seats helps set realistic ambitions, prepare for the exams, and plan applications better. This comprehensive guide provides information on government MBBS seats in India, the latest seat matrix, and the admission procedure based on NEET-UG.

Keep reading to find out more.

Why are Government MBBS Seats Highly Competitive?

Medical education in India is rapidly growing, with more than one lakh MBBS seats, most of them approximately 61000 in state colleges. It is through NEET-UG with a 15% All India Quota, including 85% State Quota, SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD quotas. Government seats remain highly competitive due to their lower fees and prestige.

The medical education system in India is enormous and thriving. Recently, thousands of MBBS seats were added. A common question many aspiring doctors ask is: How many MBBS seats are there in India?

There is intense competition for government seats, driven by reduced fees and reputational benefits. According to official sources, the total number of MBBS seats in India is more than one lakh, of which 60,000 are in government colleges.

NMC updates the MBBS seat matrix annually, which indicates the number of seats in both government and private institutions. The most recent estimates show that there are about 61231 government MBBS seats nationwide.

They are admitted based on NEET-UG. 15 per cent of all slots are under the All India Quota, and 8 per cent under the respective State Quota, including SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates.

Overview of Total MBBS Seats in India

The medical education sector in India has been very dynamic, with more than 1.18 lakh MBBS seats by 2025. Approximately half of these are in government-provided colleges, which are very competitive.

The total MBBS seat capacity in India has increased significantly in recent years. According to statistics provided by NMC in 2025, the country currently offers approximately 128,925 MBBS seats across government, private, deemed universities, and institutes of national significance, such as AIIMS and JIPMER.

In the case of NEET-2025, with almost 1.18 lakh competitors, the demand for medical education is on the rise. These seats are mostly composed of government colleges, and there are approximately 61231 MBBS seats in the country. The reason these are so popular is their low fees and good academic standards.

Comparatively, in the private colleges, there are approximately 63,291 seats in terms of medical colleges, and this is going to create a near equality in the number between the government and the private colleges.

Key Facts about MBBS Seats

• Regulating Body: Seats in the MBBS are determined and authorised by the NMC (previously MCI).
• Entrance Exam: All admissions to MBBS (governmental or private) are based on NEET-UG.
• Total Seats: Approximately 128,925 MBBS seats are offered in India in 2025-26.
• Government Seats: About 60-62 thousand seats in government colleges.
• Private Seats: The remainder (approximately 63,300) fall in the private or deemed institutions.
• Seat Split: 15% AIQ seats (open to all India counselling) and 85% State Quota seats (state-level counselling) for government seats.
• Reservation: Under the government seats, there will be reserved category quotas: SC 15%, ST 7.5%, OBC 27%, EWS 10%, PwD 5% (as per government policy).

The above details outline the current number of MBBS seats in India and also indicate that 50 per cent of MBBS seats are in the government colleges.

Total Government MBBS Seats in India

According to official NMC statistics, there are approximately 61,000 government MBBS seats in the country. These figures have been increasing as new colleges are accredited each year.

The Indian NMC has an annual seat matrix that establishes the total number of government MBBS seats in the country. In recent reports, this number amounts to approximately 61,231 seats.

Another official analysis, covering the 2026 session in particular, includes 59,416 government MBBS places, reflecting recent changes from the last accreditation cycle. Anyway, the government colleges occupy about 47-50% of all MBBS seats in India.

Other current governmental statistics and patterns include:

• NMC Approvals: In preparation for the 2024-25 academic year, NM approved an additional allocation of 10,650 MBBS seats, bringing the total MBBS seat count (govt and private) to approximately 137,600. These consents saw the addition of 41 new medical colleges (some in the central government sector).
• Government Share: Among the newly approved seats, government colleges received 41 of 170 applications, while the remaining were allocated to private institutions. This highlights that the new government seats are contested every year.
• AIIMS and INIs: Government seats also include the seats in Institutes of National Importance (AIIMS, JIPMER, etc.). The total number of MBSS (e.g.,137600) involves these INIs.

State-wise Distribution of Government MBBS Seats

Government MBBS seats differ considerably across states, depending on the population and other infrastructure. Southern states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have the largest number of seats, followed by small states/UTs such as Mizoram, Nagaland, etc., which have very few seats.

Future medical students may frequently require a breakdown of state-wise government seats for counselling. The table below summarises the current government MBBS seats by State/UT.

These numbers are collected by the National Medical Commission (in the form of a seat matrix) in the latest academic session:

State/UT	Government MBBS Seats
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	114
Andhra Pradesh	3,385
Arunachal Pradesh	100
Assam	1,700
Bihar	1,645
Chandigarh (UT)	150
Chhattisgarh	1,355
Dadra & Nagar Haveli (UT)	177
Delhi (NCT)	1,297
Goa	200
Gujarat	4,300
Haryana	935
Himachal Pradesh	820
Jammu & Kashmir	1,247
Jharkhand	805
Karnataka	3,499
Kerala	1,855
Madhya Pradesh	2,950
Maharashtra	6,075
Manipur	375
Meghalaya	100
Mizoram	100
Nagaland	100
Odisha (Orissa)	1,925
Puducherry (UT)	380
Punjab	900
Rajasthan	4,476
Tamil Nadu	5,450
Telangana	4,365
Tripura	150
Uttarakhand	750
Uttar Pradesh	5,625
West Bengal	3,926
Total (All States/UTs)	61,231

A few observations:

• Highest Seats: Tamil Nadu (5,450), Uttar Pradesh (5,625), Maharashtra (6,075), Karnataka (3,499), Gujarat (4,300), Rajasthan (4,476). Numerous government colleges are present in these densely populated states.
• Moderate Seats: Andhra Pradesh (3,385), Kerala (1,855), Madhya Pradesh (2,950), Bihar (1,645), etc.
  
• Lower Seats: Smaller states/UTs such as Goa (200), Chandigarh (150), Mizoram (100), Nagaland (100), Meghalaya (100) have a very minimal number of seats.

These figures indicate the present potential of the government’s medical colleges in each area. An example is that Kerala has 14 state colleges with 1,855 MBBS seats, compared with six colleges with 900 in Punjab.

Prospective students will be able to observe which states have more seats to gain an idea of the level of competition. All of the values above are through the official allocation of seats in NMC.

Reservation and Quota in Government MBBS Seats

The MBBS admission is based on the reservation policy of India. 15 per cent of the seats are allotted through the All India Quota (AIQ), and the remaining 85 per cent are filled through State Quota, reserving seats for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD.

Admission to MBBS in the government colleges is purely through the NEET examination. The procedure of allotment includes the following rules:

• All India Quota (AIQ) – 15%: All India Quota occupies 15% of all the seats in a government medical college. These are national seats and are allocated to candidates selected through centralised MCC counselling.

In AIQ, reservations are made- 27% OBC, 15% SC, 7.5% ST, 10% EWS, and 5% PwD. Thus, a 100-seat college would have 15 seats of AIQ (category-based) and 85 under the State Quota.

• State Quota – 85%: The other 85 per cent of seats in a state medical college are considered State Quota and are available to candidates domiciled in that state or UT.

The states carry out counselling and implement reservation systems for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD. This, in effect, translates into 85 of 100 seats being local-candidate seats under the state’s reservation provisions.

• Domicile Rules: In order to secure State Quota seats, candidates usually need to be domiciled in the state in which they seek to be admitted. Aspirants who are not domiciled may only compete for 15% AIQ seats in such colleges.
• Impact on Seat Counts: Among the approximately 61000 government MBBS seats, approximately 9000 (approximately 15%) are filled under the All India Quota, and the remaining 52000 are filled under state quota counselling.

To both AIQ and state seats, the same reservation categories, based on 15% SC, 7.5% ST, 27% OBC, 10% EWS, and 5% PwD, are applied.

These quotas imply that the number of government medical seats in each category is determined in proportion to the distribution of the seats.

Government MBBS seats are broadly categorised into 15% AIQ and 85% State Quota to make sure that both national and state-level competition and access are balanced.

Recent Trends and Expansion of MBBS Seats

MBBS seats have increased significantly in recent years. The government colleges experienced growth in number, with the addition of new colleges and an increase in the number of seats in existing colleges, reaching approximately 115,900 seats in 2024-25, compared to approximately 83,000 in 2020-21.

The Indian government has vigorously increased medical education in accordance with the national healthcare objectives (e.g. one doctor per 1000 people). Major developments include:

• New Colleges and Seats: Hundreds of new government medical colleges have been put up since 2014. According to the report published by the Union Health Ministry, 44 new colleges and approximately 11,732 MBBS seats were added during the year before 2025.

Many of these institutes are affiliated with a district hospital or are located in underserved areas such as the Northeast and J&K.

• Seat Increases: In conjunction with the new colleges, some existing institutions have been allowed to increase their intake, e.g., from 100 to 150 or from 150 to 250 seats, through the NMC’s yearly expansion workflow.
• PM’s Pledge: The Prime Minister, on Independence Day 2024, said that 75,000 more medical seats would be added over five years. This initiative is represented by the 10,650 seats scheduled for approval in 2024-25 (across 41 new colleges).
• Year-wise Growth: According to parliamentary statistics, M BBS places will increase by approximately 83,275 from 2020-21 to 2024-25, reaching approximately 115,900. In 2024-25, a Hindustan Times report stated a total of 137,600, an increase of 10,650 new seats (almost twice the number in 10 years).
• Vacant Seats: Even with the rapid growth, not all seats are filled annually. Approximately 2,849 MBBS seats remain unoccupied in 202324, primarily due to high NEET cutoffs in some states. This gap is narrowing as more students qualify.
• State Leaders: States such as Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Gujarat continue to dominate the total number of MBBS seats offered by government and private colleges. This growth is also facilitated by new AIIMS campuses (e.g. Bilaspur, Rewari).

Admission Through NEET and Government Seats

Every government MBBS seat is filled through the NEET-UG examination and subsequent counselling. Knowledge of the counselling procedure and quotas is vital for applicants to government colleges.

In the case of medical aspirants, the process is as follows:

1. NEET-UG Examination: Candidates are required to take the NEET-UG. The NEET rank/score is used to select MBBS seats.
2. Counselling Authorities: The MCC (Medical Counselling Communities) conducts counselling for the All India Quota (15 per cent of seats) and for Deemed/AIIMS. Counselling for government colleges in the state is performed by the State authorities for the remaining 85 per cent of State Quota seats.
3. Seat Choices: The applicants are involved in a round-wise counselling. They select colleges and seats (AIQ vs State Quota) based on their NEET rank and category.
4. Admission: After being allotted a seat, the candidate reports to the college and undergoes admission formalities.
   

Important Points for Applicants

Factor	Explanation
Competition	The cutoffs for government seats, particularly in the top colleges and states, are very high and can be in the 600s and above range. To gain admission to AIIMS or other prominent medical colleges in the country, one needs almost perfect NEET scores.
State Eligibility	The 15% AIQ seats are available to non-domicile students in other states, but they have to depend on their state quota for the remaining 85%
Reservation Benefit	The reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD) have allotted seats that may reduce the cutoff requirements compared to those in the non-reserved category.
Seat Predictors	Seat predictors are presented on coaching platforms and are drawn based on trends, but the actual allotment is based on NEET ranking, preferences, and seat availability.
Outcome Realism	There are approximately 60,000 seats in the government, plus more than 20,000,000 NEET aspirants, which makes the competition tough. It is estimated that only 3-5 per cent of applicants get a seat in government MBBS every year.

FAQs about Total Government MBBS Seats in India

1. Are more government MBBS seats being added each year?

Yes. Seats have been increasing every year since new medical colleges have been established, and most available colleges are growing their admissions.

2. Where can I find the state-wise distribution of government MBBS seats?

The state-wise seat matrix released by the NMC is available on different educational platforms. It allows students to realise the differences in the way seats vary between states and in the places where competition may increase.

3. Are all government MBBS seats allotted through NEET-UG?

Yes. All government MBBS seats, whether under AIQ or State Quota, are allotted strictly based on NEET-UG and then counselling.

4. Do AIIMS and JIPMER seats count as government MBBS seats?

Yes. The AIIMS, JIPME, and R, as well as seats in central universities, MBBS, fall under the overall number of government medical seats.

5. Does an increase in government MBBS seats make admission easier?

Not always. Although the number has risen, competition remains high, with lakhs of applicants competing for a few seats, especially within leading colleges and in highly demanding states.

Conclusion

Government MBBS in India currently amounts to approximately sixty thousand, with hundreds of medical colleges. For NEET aspirants, it is important to know this distribution by state and the 15% AIQ and 8% state quota system. Following the official NMC and NEET announcements helps students organise their counselling and secure the best opportunities.

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