Thousands of newly approved postgraduate seats into the national seat matrix Recent notifications from the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) confirm an addition of over 7,000 PG positions for the 2025-26 session. Aspirants participating in Round 3 and subsequent stray vacancy rounds will now have access to these clinical and para-clinical specializations. Counselling authorities have been directed to proceed with allotments using these updated figures, even before physical Letters of Permission are issued.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently cleared a substantial increase in postgraduate medical seats, a move that is now being fully reflected in the ongoing admission planning for the 2025-26 academic year. As of January 2026, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) has confirmed the addition of 7,619 new postgraduate seats, bringing the national total to 57,503. This expansion is primarily driven by the approval of appeals from various medical colleges, allowing for a broader distribution of MD and MS positions across the country.

Integration of New Seats into the Counselling Matrix

The most immediate impact of this approval is seen in the updated seat matrix for the current third round of counselling. The authorities have ensured that these additional positions are available to candidates without administrative delay.

• Immediate Allotment: According to a public notice dated December 31, 2025, and subsequent updates in January 2026, counselling bodies have been authorized to include new seats in their systems without waiting for the physical issuance of Letters of Permission (LoPs).
• Clinical Branch Boost: High-demand specializations such as General Medicine, Radio Diagnosis, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology have received a significant portion of the new intake, directly influencing the planning strategies of top-ranked aspirants.
• Specialist Shortage Redressal: This strategic planning by the NMC aims to bridge the gap in specialist healthcare services by increasing the residency capacity in both government and private medical institutions.
• Regional Distribution: States like Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh have emerged as major beneficiaries, with dozens of new seats added to their state-level and All India Quota pools.

Streamlining the Admission Workflow

The integration of these NMC-approved seats into the national database marks a shift toward a more agile regulatory environment. By utilizing decisions from the First Appeal Committee directly for counselling, the commission is bypassing traditional bottlenecks.

• Transparent Documentation: The NMC has clarified that the uploaded lists of NMC-approved seats serve as valid official documents for all allotment purposes, providing legal certainty to both colleges and students.
• Choice Filling Adjustments: Registered candidates are encouraged to re-examine the revised seat matrix, as the addition of these vacancies can significantly alter the closing ranks and admission probabilities for various branches.
• Para-Clinical Expansion: Beyond core clinical roles, there has been a notable increase in seats for Microbiology and Pharmacology, supporting the country's diagnostic and research infrastructure.
• Final Deadline Alignment: All admission activities related to these new seats are scheduled to conclude by the national joining deadline of January 31, 2026, to ensure the academic session begins on time.

Summary of Postgraduate Seat Growth (2025-26)

The following table summarizes the scale of seat additions that have been integrated into the current admission cycle.

• Institutional Compliance: Colleges are currently updating their internal software to accommodate the new intake for the upcoming residency batches starting in February.
• Eligibility Impact: Combined with the recent reduction in the qualifying percentile, this seat increase provides a vital lifeline for thousands of qualified doctors who were previously on the edge of the cutoff.

Conclusion

The reflection of additional postgraduate seats in the current admission planning marks a significant milestone for medical education in India for 2026. By increasing the available seats and streamlining the approval process, the NMC is effectively expanding the horizon for aspiring specialists. As the final rounds of counselling approach, these newly sanctioned positions will play a decisive role in filling the gaps across various medical disciplines, ensuring that more doctors can pursue their desired specializations within the country.