In a setback for medical aspirants, Karnataka has lost 201 MBBS seats for the academic year 2025-26. The reduction was confirmed following the final approval list issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which governs medical education standards across India.

Last year, 71 medical colleges in the state offered 12,395 seats for MBBS admissions through NEET-UG, but this year, the total count has dropped to 12,194. The development has caused concern among students and parents alike, especially with competition for government medical seats at an all-time high.

Belagavi College Loses 50 Seats

The biggest blow was dealt to the Government Medical College in Belagavi, which saw a reduction of 50 seats, the highest among affected institutions.

Officials familiar with the matter said the NMC inspection revealed issues such as:

• Shortage of qualified faculty

• Incomplete infrastructure in hostels and laboratories

• Non-compliance with teaching hospital requirements

The college had been offering 150 MBBS seats, but will now admit only 100 students this year.

Why Were Seats Reduced?

The National Medical Commission (NMC) routinely conducts inspections of medical colleges before granting or renewing seat approvals. This year, it is understood that several institutions in Karnataka failed to meet required norms, particularly in terms of:

• Faculty availability and appointments

• Hospital bed occupancy and patient load

• Digital and diagnostic infrastructure

• Academic performance metrics

The NMC has become stricter post-2023, after the Union Health Ministry directed it to tighten enforcement and ensure only compliant institutions are allowed to operate.

Which Colleges Are Affected?

While a complete list is awaited, initial reports suggest the following medical colleges lost MBBS seats:

The total reduction comes to 201 seats, including the denial of permission for a newly proposed government medical college in Chikkamagaluru, which was supposed to add 100 new seats this year but did not receive clearance.

Implications for NEET Aspirants

The loss of seats is likely to have a significant impact on Karnataka NEET UG aspirants, as:

• Fewer government seats means increased cutoff scores for state quota admissions

• Private colleges may see higher demand despite higher tuition fees

• Many students may now have to look outside the state or consider alternative options like BDS or paramedical courses

A parent from Bengaluru whose daughter scored 615 in NEET-UG said,

“Every seat matters when the margin between ranks is in decimals. This cut in seats means thousands of students will lose their chance to study medicine in Karnataka.”

State Government Response

The Karnataka Health and Medical Education Department acknowledged the loss and said corrective steps are being taken. A senior official stated:

“We are working closely with the affected colleges to ensure that all NMC-mandated deficiencies are rectified before the next inspection cycle. Our aim is to restore the lost seats by the 2026 academic year.”

The government has also ordered a state-wide audit of infrastructure in all government medical colleges to prevent future lapses in NMC compliance.

Experts Urge Structural Reform

Medical education experts said the trend is worrying, especially at a time when India is attempting to ramp up its healthcare workforce. Dr. Ravi Kumar, a health policy expert, said:

“Cutting down MBBS seats due to non-compliance is necessary, but it also shows how poorly prepared many of our institutions are. We need investment, accountability, and structural reform.”

Conclusion

The 201-seat reduction in Karnataka's MBBS capacity is a harsh reality for both students and the state’s public health ambitions. It underscores the importance of quality assurance in medical education, even as India pushes for expansion in healthcare access. Stakeholders now hope that corrective measures will be swiftly implemented so that Karnataka doesn’t face a repeat of this setback in 2026.