Maharashtra NEET counselling: 2 new medical colleges await MUHS affiliation, 2 existing institutes yet to get approved additional seats
Mumbai: Two new medical colleges in Maharashtra are yet to be included in the state’s NEET UG 2026 admission process as they await affiliation from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS).
Meanwhile, 150 additional MBBS seats approved by the National Medical Commission (NMC) at two existing medical colleges are reportedly yet to be added to the state seat matrix for the 2026–27 academic year.
The issue has come to light as the state-level NEET UG stray vacancy round has begun, raising questions about whether the two new colleges will be able to participate in the ongoing admission process.
Officials from the colleges told Careers360 that MUHS had raised certain queries related to faculty during inspections and that the institutions were awaiting affiliation from the university.
Responding to a query on October 17, the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell clarified that only colleges that have received a Government Resolution (GR) and university affiliation are considered for the admission process. It added that the two new colleges would be able to participate once they obtained the required permissions. However, the CET Cell did not clarify whether they could join the ongoing counselling process or would be considered in the next academic year.
According to the NMC’s MBBS seat matrix for the 2026–27 academic year, updated as of September 1, 2026, Mauli Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Buldhana, has been listed with 100 MBBS seats, while Ideal Institute of Medical Science, Palghar, has been listed with 50 seats.
On the other hand, Smt.Kashibai Navale Medical College, Pune, and Smt. Sakhubai Narayanrao Katkade Medical College, Kopargaon have been granted an additional 50 and 100 seats by NMC, taking their overall intake to 150 each.
However, these additional seats are yet to be included in the state seat matrix.
Careers 360 reported that the matter was raised by Khan, president of the Mission Awareness Foundation, in an email dated October 17 to the State CET Cell and the Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department. He sought clarification on why Ideal Institute of Medical Science and Mauli Medical College had not participated in the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) 2026 despite reportedly having NMC approval.
In its reply, the CET Cell said, "Only those colleges who have received Government GR and affiliation from the University are considered."
When asked whether the colleges would participate this year or in the next academic year, the CET Cell said the colleges will participate when they get the required permissions.
If the two new colleges are included in the state admission process, they could add 150 MBBS seats to the admission pool. The inclusion of the additional seats approved at the two existing colleges could add another 150 seats, taking the total potential increase to 300 MBBS seats for the 2026–27 academic year.
Also read- NEET Counselling 2026: MCC releases round 3 non-reported, admitted candidates lists
