Maharashtra NEET UG 2026: 138 MBBS and BDS Seats Vacant After Final Counselling; No Institutional Round

Maharashtra has concluded NEET UG 2026 counselling with 138 vacant MBBS and BDS seats across 99 medical and dental colleges. Of the 11,431 total seats available for the 2026–27 academic year, 11,293 were filled, leaving 84 MBBS and 54 BDS seats unfilled. All admissions were conducted through the State CET Cell, and no institutional-level round has been authorised.

Candidates should not treat these published vacancy figures as an invitation to seek direct admission from individual colleges. Any further participation would require a separately announced counselling process.

Vacancy Breakdown

MBBS vacancies by institution type:

• Government colleges: 0 vacant (5,065 of 5,065 filled)
• Private colleges: 39 vacant (3,260 of 3,299 filled)
• Private universities: 45 vacant (405 of 450 filled)

BDS vacancies by institution type:

• Government colleges: 2 vacant (315 of 317 filled)
• Private colleges: 22 vacant (2,178 of 2,200 filled)
• Private university: 30 vacant (70 of 100 filled)

Almost all vacant seats are in private medical colleges and private universities. All government MBBS seats were filled.

Why This Year Is Different

For the three academic years preceding 2026–27, Maharashtra recorded zero vacant MBBS seats—every seat was filled in 2023–24, 2024–25, and 2025–26. BDS had near-zero vacancies as well (11 in 2023–24, 1 each in 2024–25 and 2025–26).

The 2026–27 cycle marks the first year the state eliminated the institutional round for undergraduate medical and dental admissions. Previously, colleges could fill seats remaining after centralised rounds through their own admission processes. This year, all admissions—including stray-vacancy rounds—were conducted exclusively through the State CET Cell.

The CET Cell conducted three centralised admission rounds and three stray-vacancy rounds for 2026–27, compared with three centralised rounds and one stray round previously.

Sources cited by the Hindustan Times attributed the vacancies to tighter scrutiny of the admission process, with one retired dean noting that processing all students through a common system likely reduced scope for irregularities. A parents' representative also pointed to high fees and uncertainty over scholarship benefits as factors discouraging candidates from committing to expensive medical education.

Bombay High Court Rejects Private College Plea

The Bombay High Court (Aurangabad Bench) rejected a petition by Parbhani Medical College seeking permission to conduct institution-level counselling for vacant MBBS seats, terming the plea "premature" because the state's admission process was still underway at the time of the order.

The court, however, recognised the legal position that colleges may be permitted to fill vacant seats through manual counselling after centralised admissions conclude. It directed the petitioner to approach the Supreme Court to seek an extension of the admission cut-off date and permission to fill seats at their level if vacancies remain.

Data presented during the hearing indicated that Palghar's Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences had approximately 45 vacant seats and Karjat's Tasgaonkar Medical Institute had 15. These institutions were among those that had challenged the state's decision to discontinue institutional rounds.

Current status: It is not confirmed whether any college has filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court following the High Court order. [VERIFY] — check Supreme Court listings and education news for updates.

What This Means for Candidates

No direct admission to vacant seats. All admissions for 2026–27 are through the CET Cell. Colleges cannot independently admit students to fill these vacancies under the current rules.

No further state counselling announced. The source article confirms that the reported update does not announce another application or counselling window.

Vacancies are not an admission opportunity. Published vacancy figures reflect seats that remained unfilled after the prescribed process. They do not create a new eligibility window.

Supreme Court developments may matter. If petitioning colleges obtain relief from the Supreme Court, the situation could change. Monitor official CET Cell communications and court reporting. [VERIFY]

Alternatives: Candidates who did not secure a seat in Maharashtra may explore counselling in other states or national-level mechanisms, depending on eligibility and availability. [VERIFY] — specific alternatives not covered in source article.

Counselling Process 2026–27

All seat allotments were made by the State CET Cell, bringing 100% of MBBS and BDS seats under centralised control.