Maharashtra NEET UG counselling 2026 filled 11,293 out of 11,431 MBBS and BDS seats, leaving 138 seats vacant. The state conducted all admissions through six rounds under the State CET Cell, eliminating the institutional round following a High Court decision. This approach aimed to reduce student complaints and ensure a transparent admission process.
- 11,431 total MBBS and BDS seats available in Maharashtra for 2026-27
- 11,293 seats (98.79%) filled through six rounds of counselling
- MBBS admission rate: 99.04%; BDS admission rate: 97.93%
- No institutional round conducted this year as per government and High Court directives
- State CET Cell managed all admissions through three CAP and three stray vacancy rounds
How many MBBS and BDS seats were available and filled in Maharashtra in 2026?
For the academic year 2026-27, Maharashtra had 11,431 seats across 99 medical and dental colleges. This included 8,814 MBBS seats in 70 medical colleges and 2,617 BDS seats in 29 dental colleges. Out of these, 11,293 seats were filled, resulting in an overall admission rate of 98.79%. Specifically, MBBS seats were filled at 99.04%, with 8,730 admissions, and BDS seats at 97.93%, with 2,563 admissions.
Why was there no institutional round for admissions this year?
Previously, after three centralized admission process (CAP) rounds and one stray vacancy round, remaining vacant seats were filled at the institutional level. However, complaints from students prompted the Ministry of Medical Education to change the rules. From 2026 onwards, all admissions must be conducted by the State CET Cell. This year, the CET Cell conducted six rounds of counselling—three CAP and three stray vacancy rounds—eliminating the institutional round.
What was the impact of the High Court's decision on Maharashtra NEET counselling?
The Bombay High Court rejected a plea by a private medical college to hold institution-level counselling to fill vacant MBBS seats. This ruling reinforced the government's decision to centralize the admission process under the CET Cell. As a result, no institutional round was held, ensuring a uniform and transparent admission process across the state.
How do the 2026 admission statistics compare to previous years?
MBBS admissions have consistently filled nearly all seats in recent years. From 2023 to 2025, no MBBS seats remained vacant. In 2026, 84 MBBS seats remained vacant out of 8,814. For BDS, admissions have also been high, with only a few seats vacant each year. In 2026, 54 BDS seats remained vacant out of 2,617. These figures indicate a slight increase in vacant seats this year but overall high admission rates.
What changes are planned for medical education in Maharashtra?
The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) Nashik plans to establish 865 new colleges, including 51 for MBBS, mainly in small towns. There is also a focus on allied health sciences such as nursing and physiotherapy. These developments aim to expand medical education access and meet growing healthcare demands.
