CHENNAI: Medical colleges across Tamil Nadu together expanded MBBS seats by 950 this year, with 13 existing institutions, including three government medical colleges, raising their intake and one new private college joining the roster, according to a seat matrix released by India’s National Medical Commission.
The addition brings the state’s total capacity to 13,999 seats across 78 medical colleges for the academic year 2026-27, up from 13,049 seats at 77 colleges the previous year.
Across India, undergraduate MBBS capacity has risen to 1,13,500 seats in 529 colleges for 2026-27.
NMC has cleared the decks for 9,911 additional seats, including 2,111 in govt colleges across India, taking seat tally to 1,36,939.
In Tamil Nadu, three government medical colleges — in Namakkal, Thiruvallur and Tiruppur, each expanded their intake from 100 to 150 seats, adding 150 seats in the public sector, while private institutions accounted for the remaining 800.
Among them is a lone newcomer, APS Medical College, Hospital and Research Institute, which enters the field with 150 seats.
The additions come as a consolation for a state that has simultaneously lost 800 MBBS seats from its own counselling matrix after some self-financing colleges and private universities were granted deemed university status.
Seats from at least four institutions are expected to be removed from the state list and included instead in the central pool overseen by the Medical Counselling Committee.
Among the 800 seats increased in private colleges by NMC in the seat martrix released on Tuesday, barring about 150 seats that now fall under deemed universities, the remaining will be added to the state matrix, for which admissions will be done by the state selection committee.
The admission to deemed universities, done by the centre’s medical counselling committee, follows merit in NEET but have no reservations and fee is higher at least Rs20lakh per annum.
In Tamil Nadu, self-financing colleges and state private universities, that offer up to 60% seats for govt quota, follow 69% rule of reservation, and set aside 7.5% seats for govt school students.
The annual tuition fee is capped at Rs 4.35 lakh to Rs 5.40 lakh, and for management-quota seats at Rs 15 lakh to Rs 16.20 lakh.
Officials say the net effect will still feel like a squeeze. “While the state is still going ahead with negotiations and legal options, we know the fall in seats compared to 2025 will not be as drastic as it was expected,” a senior official said.
“We get 800 seats, including the 150 seats in govt colleges this year,” he added.
