NEET UG 2026: 800+ MBBS Seats Remain Vacant in TN, Puducherry! Will MCC Conduct Additional Round?

More than 800 MBBS seats remain vacant in deemed medical universities across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry following the completion of the final round of NEET UG 2026 counselling, according to sources as per a PTI report.

According to MCC sources, 837 MBBS seats remained unfilled across India after the final counselling process, including seats under the All India Quota. Of these, 824 vacancies were reported in deemed universities located in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The figures have raised questions about why medical seats remain vacant despite demand for medical education and competition among candidates to secure admission through the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG).

Educationists have criticised the absence of a fee cap for deemed universities, arguing that the high cost of medical education prevents deserving candidates from taking up available seats. They contend that students who achieve strong scores in NEET may be unable to pursue MBBS programmes at these institutions because their families cannot afford the substantial tuition fees. As a result, the availability of seats does not necessarily translate into access to medical education for candidates on the basis of merit alone.

P B Prince Gajendra Babu, a senior educationist and general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), told PTI that financially disadvantaged candidates with high NEET scores may decide against applying for counselling at expensive private institutions because they cannot meet the fee requirements. He explained that students who perform better in the entrance examination may therefore opt out of the admission process when the cost of studying at a deemed university is beyond their financial means.

Babu further argued that candidates with comparatively lower NEET scores but stronger financial resources may be able to apply for and secure these seats. He criticised the outcome, contending that the entrance examination system had failed to achieve its intended objectives of ensuring merit-based admissions and limiting the commercialisation of medical education.

Calling for changes in the structure of private medical education, Babu said institutions that are unable to lower their fees and consequently leave seats vacant should be closed. He also called on state governments to be encouraged to establish an adequate number of medical colleges in areas where they are needed.

Industry experts have similarly pointed to the high annual tuition fees charged by deemed universities as the principal reason for the low uptake of available MBBS seats. They suggest that the cost of pursuing a medical degree at these institutions can deter eligible applicants from accepting admission, even when vacancies remain after the counselling process.

With 824 of the 837 vacant MBBS seats reportedly concentrated in deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the possibility of an additional counselling round has emerged. Such a round could provide another opportunity to fill the remaining seats, although no decision has been confirmed. The Medical Counselling Committee will determine whether further counselling is required. Candidates and medical institutions will have to await an official announcement from MCC regarding any additional round of NEET UG 2026 admissions.