NMC warns medical colleges against MBBS admissions beyond approved seats
National Medical Commission
New Delhi: While releasing the seat matrix for the MBBS course, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission clarified that admission beyond the sanctioned seats shall not be permitted under any circumstances.
Directing the medical colleges to strictly ensure that admissions are made only against the approved number of seats for the academic year 2026-2027, the Apex Medical Commission has made it clear that any admission made beyond the sanctioned seats shall be considered a violation of the NMC Act, 2019, and the defaulting medical college/institute will have to face penal action for the same.
"All Medical Colleges shall strictly ensure that admissions are made only against the number of seats approved by the Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) for the Academic Year 2026–27. Under no circumstances shall admissions be made in excess of the approved intake capacity. Any admission made beyond the approved number of seats shall be treated as a violation of the provisions of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 and the regulations framed thereunder, and shall attract appropriate regulatory and penal action against the defaulting Medical College/Institution," President of NMC MARB, Dr. M K Ramesh, stated in the public notice dated 14.07.2026.
Writing to the heads of medical colleges/ institutes and the Medical Counselling Committee, NMC Secretary Dr Raghav Langer reiterated these directions.
"Reference is invited to Public Notice dated 14-07-2026 as issued by Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) of National Medical Commission (NMC) on the above subject matter [enclosed] being self explanatory interalia enclosing the Seat Matrix for Undergraduate (MBBS) Courses for the Academic Year 2026–27 which shall remain subject to revision, if required, based on the decisions of the Appeal Committee or any other competent authority," the communication issued by NMC on 14.07.2026 mentioned.
"The above said Public Notice indicate certain instructions/directions both for the Medical Colleges and the Counselling Committees for necessary compliance. All Medical Colleges shall strictly ensure that admissions are made only against the approved number of seats for the Academic Year 2026–27. Accordingly, all Medical Colleges/Institutions and concerned stakeholders are requested to take note of the instructions/directions for compliance and necessary action on their part," it further added.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that through the notice dated 14.07.2026, MARB released the final seat matrix for the MBBS course for the academic year 2026-2027. MARB mentioned in the notice that the seat matrix includes approvals granted for the establishment of new MBBS colleges as well as increases in the intake capacity of existing medical colleges for the academic year 2026-27.
"Reference is invited to the Public Notice dated 22.12.2025 inviting applications for the establishment of new Medical (MBBS) Colleges and for an increase in intake capacity in existing Medical (MBBS) Colleges for the Academic Year 2026– 27, and the subsequent Addendum dated 06.01.2026 issued thereto. The Seat Matrix for Undergraduate (MBBS) Courses for the Academic Year 2026–27 is enclosed herewith," the notice by MARB mentioned.
"The Seat Matrix includes the approvals granted by the Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) for the establishment of new Medical (MBBS) Colleges as well as the increase in intake capacity of existing Medical (MBBS) Colleges," it further added.
The Board has directed all private medical colleges that have received approval for a new college or an increase in MBBS seats to submit the required Electronic Bank Guarantee (E-Bank Guarantee) to MARB within seven days of the public notice. The Letter of Permission (LoP) will be issued only after the bank guarantee is received and found satisfactory.
"All Private Medical Colleges that have been granted approval for the establishment of a new Medical (MBBS) College or for an increase in intake capacity are hereby directed to furnish the requisite Electronic Bank Guarantee (E-Bank Guarantee) to the Director, Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB), National Medical Commission, within seven (7) days from the date of issuance of this Public Notice. The details of the E-Bank Guarantee shall also be shared through email. The Letter of Permission (LoP) shall be issued by MARB only after the requisite Electronic Bank Guarantee has been received and found to be in order," stated the notice.
According to the data shared by MARB, altogether 1,36,939 MBBS seats, excluding Institutes of National Importance (INIs), are available across 823 medical colleges in India for the 2026-27 academic session.
The final seat matrix revealed that 1,27,028 MBBS seats have been renewed, while 9,911 seats have been added through approved intake increases and newly established medical colleges, taking the overall MBBS seat count to 1,36,939.
"The enclosed Seat Matrix shall remain subject to revision, if required, based on the decisions of the Appeal Committee or any other competent authority. The revised Seat Matrix, wherever applicable, shall be uploaded on the official website of the National Medical Commission and shall be taken into consideration by the Counselling Committees of the Central Government and the respective State Governments for counselling and admissions," the notice mentioned.
"If any Counselling Committee notices any discrepancy or deviation in the approved Seat Matrix, the matter shall be referred to the Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) for clarification. Under no circumstances shall any Counselling Committee permit admissions in excess of the number of seats approved and notified by the Medical Assessment & Rating Board. All Medical Colleges are also advised to carefully verify the details of the Seat Matrix pertaining to their institutions for the Academic Year 2026–27. In case any discrepancy or omission is noticed, the same shall be brought immediately to the notice of the President, MARB or the Director, MARB, for appropriate examination and decision before the commencement of counselling," it further added.
