The National Medical Commission (NMC) has sanctioned a total of 5,794 additional medical seats (MBBS) to colleges across India for the year 2025-26, with medical colleges in Karnataka getting the lion’s share compared to other States.
This year, the NMC sanctioned additional seats to 808 medical colleges across India, out of which a total of 900 additional seats have been made available to 16 medical colleges in Karnataka. The remaining 4,894 seats have been sanctioned to 790 medical colleges in other States.
Of the 900, the NMC has sanctioned 100 seats to the newly opened Farookh Academy of Medical Education Hospital and Research Institution in Mysuru. NMC has sanctioned 200 seats to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) of KLE Society, Belagavi. These seats had been withheld in the wake of a bribery case.
Thus, this year, the number of seats available from the total 72 medical colleges in Karnataka has increased to 13,595. Last year, there were 12,395 seats available in 71 medical colleges.
The counselling process for admission to medical courses through UGNEET-2025 is in the final stage and preparations are underway for the seat allocation process for the mop-up round.
Earlier, the State Government had submitted a proposal to the NMC for enhancement of 850 medical seats, including an increase of 50 medical seats each in 13 government medical colleges and an increase of 100 medical seats each in two government medical colleges.
In addition, a request was submitted to sanction 250 seats for two new government medical colleges to be established in Ramanagara and Kanakapura in Bengaluru South district.
Deemed university colleges Jagadguru Gangadhar Mahaswamigalu Moorusavirmath Medical College (JGMMMC) of Hubballi and Sri Siddhartha Medical College of Tumakuru had submitted requests to the NMC for an increase of 50 seats each.
However, due to lack of infrastructure, shortage of faculty and other reasons, the NMC did not grant permission for enhancement of seats to any medical college in the State this year, and rejected the State’s proposal of medical seats enhancement in May.
75,000 additional seats
In his Independence Day address on August 15, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced to sanction 75,000 medical seats across the nation by 2029 to fulfil the dreams of aspiring doctors and to enhance the country’s overall healthcare capacity. A decision was also taken in this regard recently in the Union Cabinet.
Recently, Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth, the new Chairman of NMC, had announced that a total of 8,000 medical seats would be enhanced in medical colleges across the country. Accordingly, by the time of the 2nd round of NEET counselling, a total of 5,794 additional seats were sanctioned, of which 900 seats were available to Karnataka.
Students and parents are happy
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“I got a dental seat during the first round of counselling but I did not want to study dental science. I had given up my desire to study a medical course. But, due to the increase in seats in the second round of counselling, I got an MBBS seat,” said a student from Bengaluru.
B.L. Sujatha Rathod, Director of Directorate of Medical Education, told The Hindu, “The NMC, which initially rejected the State’s request for the enhancement of medical seats, has now sanctioned 900 additional seats in the second round of counselling, which has benefited the students of the State. Compared to other States, the basic facilities, clinical practice and teaching system in medical colleges in Karnataka are really good. , There is a possibility that the State will get more additional seats next year as well, and the requests submitted by the colleges for additional seats will be consolidated and submitted to the NMC.”
Published – October 02, 2025 04:50 pm IST
