The Indian government has announced the number of MBBS and medical postgraduate (PG) seats available across the country for the academic year 2025-26. This year, there are a total of 1,28,875 MBBS seats and 80,291 medical PG seats. While many seats are currently filled, some remain vacant, and the government is considering reforms to the entrance examination process to reduce academic pressure on students and ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of academic quality.
MBBS and Medical PG Seats 2025-26: Recently, the central government revealed that 1,28,875 MBBS seats and 80,291 medical PG seats will be available in India during this academic year. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, these figures include 65,193 government MBBS seats and 63,682 private MBBS seats. Despite four rounds of All India Counseling, 72 seats remain unoccupied. In the field of medical PG, a total of 80,291 seats are available, encompassing 17,707 seats for DNB, DRNB, FNMB, and post-MBBS diploma courses.
Total MBBS and Medical PG Seats
The Indian government has shared data regarding the state of medical education in the country for the academic year 2025-26. This year, a total of 1,28,875 MBBS seats are available, distributed across 65,193 government colleges and 63,682 private institutions. Following the four rounds of All India Counseling, 72 seats remain unfilled. Within medical PG programs, there are 80,291 seats, including 17,707 seats for DNB, DRNB, FNMB, and post-MBBS diploma programs.
State-wise Distribution of MBBS Seats
The distribution of MBBS seats varies across states. Andhra Pradesh has 3,415 government and 3,800 private seats, while Assam has 1,975 government seats and no private seats. Bihar boasts 1,645 government and 1,900 private seats, Delhi offers 1,296 government and 100 private seats. Tamil Nadu has 5,250 government and 7,800 private seats, and Uttar Pradesh features 5,925 government and 7,500 private seats. These figures illustrate the rapid growth of the medical education sector, although challenges remain in terms of seat shortages or vacancies in certain states.
Proposed Changes to Entrance Examinations
The central government is considering several initiatives to reform medical entrance examinations. Proposed changes include conducting entrance exams in Class 11, alongside exams like JEE Main, NEET, and CUET, to alleviate academic pressure on students. Furthermore, a hybrid assessment model incorporating board exam marks and entrance exam results could be implemented, encouraging students to prioritize classroom learning over reliance on coaching.
Potential Impact on Students and Educational Institutions
If these reforms are implemented, students are likely to experience reduced mental pressure and improved academic quality in the coming years. The plan to conduct entrance exams twice a year will allow students to better manage their preparation. Moreover, these initiatives align with the National Education Policy 2020, ensuring the transparent and balanced development of medical education across the country.
