Intense Competition in MP NEET UG Counselling as 15,129 Aspirants Vie for 5,799 Seats

With rising competition, 15,129 candidates are applying for 5,799 medical and dental seats in Madhya Pradesh. This article details the seat distribution, key counselling dates, and what this means for aspirants.

The first round of NEET UG 2025 counselling in Madhya Pradesh has commenced, revealing a highly competitive landscape for aspiring medical and dental students. The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has published a state merit list with 15,129 eligible candidates for the state quota, all competing for a total of 5,799 seats. This staggering ratio of nearly three applicants for every single seat highlights the growing pressure on medical aspirants and underscores the premium placed on a career in medicine.

The total number of seats available for MP NEET UG counselling for the 2025-26 academic session stands at 5,799. This includes 4,775 seats for the MBBS program and 1,024 seats for the BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) program. These seats are distributed across a mix of government and private institutions, with the majority of highly sought-after MBBS seats concentrated in the state's government medical colleges.

Distribution of Seats and Rising Competition

According to the official data released by the DME, the total MBBS seats in Madhya Pradesh are 4,775, with 2,575 in 17 government medical colleges and 2,200 in 12 private medical institutions. For the BDS program, there are 1,024 seats, including 63 in the single government dental college and 1,170 in private dental colleges.The intense competition is particularly pronounced for government college seats, which are highly coveted due to their lower fee structure and reputation.

While the number of seats has seen a marginal increase over the past few years, the number of qualified applicants has surged, leading to a tighter race for admission. This year, the DME's state merit list confirms a substantial increase in applicants compared to the previous cycle. This trend is a reflection of the overall national increase in NEET-qualified candidates and the limited number of medical and dental seats available in the state. The competition is not uniform across all categories; the general and OBC categories are witnessing the highest pressure, with a ratio of more than two applicants per seat in the open category alone.

Counselling Process and Key Dates

The MP NEET UG counselling process for Round 1 is currently in a critical phase. The online registration window for eligible candidates closed on July 29, and the state merit list was published on July 30. Following the release of the merit list, the choice filling and locking process for all registered candidates is ongoing, with the last date being August 4, 2025.

• Choice Filling and Locking: This stage is arguably the most crucial part of the counselling process. Candidates are required to fill in their preferences for colleges and courses in order of priority. Given the high level of competition, strategic choice filling is vital. Aspirants are advised to list as many colleges as possible to maximize their chances of securing a seat.
• Seat Allotment Result: The result for the first round of seat allotment is scheduled to be declared on August 6, 2025.This will be followed by the document verification and admission process at the respective allotted colleges from August 7 to August 11, 2025.

What This Means for Aspirants

The high number of applicants and the limited seats mean that the cut-off ranks for admission to both government and private colleges are likely to remain high. Aspirants with a rank close to the cut-off must remain vigilant and actively participate in all subsequent counselling rounds, including Round 2 and the Mop-up rounds. It is also important to note that the state counselling process is for the 85% state quota seats, while the remaining 15% of government college seats are filled through the All India Quota (AIQ) by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), which has a separate counselling schedule.

Candidates are strongly advised to keep a close watch on the official DME website for all updates and to avoid relying on unverified sources. With the allotment result just around the corner, the coming days will be filled with anxiety and hope for thousands of students and their families who have worked hard to secure a seat in the demanding field of medicine.