The National Testing Agency (NTA) announced that out of 22.09 lakh students who appeared for NEET 2025, 12.36 lakh have qualified, slightly down from last year’s 13.15 lakh. While clearing one of India’s toughest exams is a milestone, the real challenge lies ahead: securing an MBBS seat.
According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), India has 1,18,190 MBBS seats across 780 medical colleges for 2025-26. That leaves nearly 12 lakh qualified students without a seat, pushing many to explore private colleges, alternate health-related courses, or medical education abroad.
Top 5 States with MBBS Seats (NMC 2024-25):
1. Tamil Nadu: 11,725
2. Uttar Pradesh: 11,225
3. Karnataka: 11,045
4. Maharashtra: 10,595
5. Telangana: 8,540
These states account for ~45% of total seats. Meanwhile, regions like Arunachal Pradesh (50 seats) and Meghalaya (50 seats) face severe shortages, leaving students reliant on private colleges or other states.
Cost of Medical Education:
1. Government Colleges: ₹1L–₹7L for 5.5 years
2. Private Colleges: ₹50L–₹1.25Cr
3. AIIMS/JIPMER: <₹10,000/year – the most affordable route!
The government has doubled MBBS seats since 2014 (51,000 to 1,18,190), with initiatives like PMSSY driving growth. Yet, demand far exceeds supply, and regional disparities persist.
As centralized counselling begins, the competition intensifies. For those who don’t secure a seat, exploring allied health fields or international options might be the next step.