Karnataka HC directs NMC to provide full details of newly added MBBS seats

The Karnataka High Court has issued a crucial directive to the National Medical Commission (NMC), demanding complete details of newly added MBBS seats for the 2025-26 academic year. This order, stemming from petitions by medical aspirants, is scrutinizing the transparency and methodology of the Third Round of Counselling by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). The Court specifically seeks data on how many of these new seats were added to the All India Quota (AIQ) after the counselling process had commenced. This intervention has effectively halted the finalization of the Round 3 allotment, pending clarity on seat shuffling and merit-based distribution.

The final stages of the NEET UG 2025 Counselling for MBBS and BDS seats in Karnataka are currently under intense judicial scrutiny. The Karnataka High Court, while hearing a batch of petitions filed by frustrated medical aspirants, has issued a landmark order directing the apex medical education body, the National Medical Commission (NMC), to furnish comprehensive details regarding the increase in MBBS seats for the current academic year.

​The core of the aspirants' grievance lies in the methodology adopted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) during the Third Round of Counselling (also known as the Mop-Up Round) and the sudden introduction of additional seats late in the admission cycle. Candidates argue that the late inclusion of new seats, particularly those contributing to the All India Quota (AIQ), and the manner in which they were subsequently allotted, introduced opacity and potentially compromised the principle of merit-based selection. As of November 22, 2025, the KEA's provisional allotment list for the Third Round remains stalled due to the High Court’s interim direction, pending the NMC's detailed submission.

​ Court's Directive: Seeking Transparency from the NMC

​The High Court's order is a direct response to the lack of clarity surrounding the final seat matrix and the timely communication of sanctioned seats by the NMC to the respective counselling authorities. The Court has posed specific questions designed to uncover the extent of late seat additions.

• ​Mandatory Disclosure of Seat Additions: The NMC has been directed to submit details of all newly added MBBS seats across the country after the official commencement of the 2025-26 counselling process. 
  • ​This includes seats added via new medical college approvals or the increase in intake capacity for existing colleges, which, according to reports, saw a total increase of over 5,950 seats nationwide this year. (Karnataka alone saw an approval of 450 new MBBS seats).
• ​AIQ Contribution of New Seats: The Court specifically sought details on how many of the increased MBBS seats in Karnataka were subsequently added to the All India Quota (AIQ) after the KEA had already initiated its State Quota counselling process. This 15% contribution to the AIQ from newly sanctioned Government seats is a crucial factor that affects the State's own available seats.
• ​Questioning KEA's Methodology: The petitions being heard primarily challenge KEA's procedure for the Third Round, specifically the restriction placed on candidates who had already secured a seat in Round 1 or 2, preventing them from participating in the general vacancy pool of the Third Round, except against newly added seats. The Court is ensuring that the allotment adheres strictly to Supreme Court guidelines, which emphasize merit and fairness, especially in the last phase.

​Implications for Aspirants and the Admission Timeline

​The High Court's intervention, while aimed at ensuring fairness, creates immediate uncertainty and delays the finalization of admissions for the current batch.

• ​Stalled Allotment Process: The KEA's provisional seat allotment for the Third Round, which was published on October 24, 2025, has been under a continuous interim stay order since October 26, 2025. This means that candidates who were provisionally allotted seats cannot finalize their admission or report to the college until the Court vacates the stay.
• ​Potential Reshuffling of Seats: If the NMC's submission reveals significant discrepancies or irregularities in how the newly added seats, particularly those contributing to the AIQ, were managed or transferred, the Court may direct the KEA to re-do parts of the Third Round Counselling. 
  • ​A re-do would necessitate a re-evaluation of the priority list, potentially leading to a reshuffling of seats and a change in the final allotment list, especially for the high-demand clinical courses.
• ​Risk of Academic Year Delay: The final deadline for the completion of the entire admission process, including the Stray Vacancy Round, is usually strict to ensure the academic session begins on time. Further judicial delays in the Third Round increase the risk of the academic year's late start, affecting the entire 2025-26 MBBS batch.

​ NMC's Role and Future Counselling Transparency

​The Karnataka High Court's directive emphasizes the NMC's central role in maintaining a transparent and stable seat matrix throughout the counselling process, not just at the beginning.

• ​Accountability for Late Approvals: The legal challenge underscores the need for the NMC to finalize all approvals for new colleges and increased intake capacity well before the commencement of counselling. Late-stage approvals, though increasing the total number of seats (a net positive, with over \mathbf{12,644} seats in Karnataka alone), disrupt the merit ranking and cause administrative and legal complications.
• ​Adherence to Allotment Rules: The focus on the AIQ contribution from Karnataka highlights the precise balance that must be maintained between the 15% AIQ and the 85% State Quota. Any incorrect calculation or late contribution of the 15% AIQ share from newly added Government seats leads to an immediate imbalance and legal challenges regarding the State's remaining seat pool.
• ​Aspirant Advocacy: The petitions filed by the MBBS aspirants reflect a growing trend of students seeking judicial intervention to ensure fair play in the high-stakes medical admission process. This serves as a significant check on the processes of both the national and state counselling bodies (NMC, MCC, and KEA).

​Conclusion

​The Karnataka High Court's order demanding detailed transparency from the NMC regarding newly added MBBS seats has frozen the final stage of the State's UG counselling. While this pause may cause anxiety and delay the start of the academic session, it is vital to uphold the principles of merit and procedural fairness in the allotment of highly competitive medical seats. Aspirants must track the developments on the Karnataka High Court website and the official KEA portal, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, for the final verdict and the subsequent schedule release.

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