Why more than 400 MBBS seats remain vacant even as MCC conducts additional rounds to fill up the college medical posts?

The rising cost of private medical education has always been a major topic of discussion. As thousands of applicants compete for limited vacancies at affordable public universities, growing demand at private universities – whose exorbitant tuition leaves places unfilled – continues to grow.

A report by The Times of India (TOI) highlighted that 411 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) seats in India remain vacant even after the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) conducted another round of undergraduate medical admissions.

More than 400 MBBS seats remain vacant

MCC, which conducts counseling for medical college admissions, conducted a special vacancy round which included 948 MBBS vacancies. Of these, 537 seats were allotted to candidates while 411 remained vacant despite being given another opportunity.

Quoting a health official, TOI said that there has been a significant increase in the number of vacancies compared to last year when only 60-70 MBBS seats remained vacant.

“The SC directed us to conduct four rounds of counselling, but we have also conducted the fifth round. Despite this, more than 400 seats remain unallocated,” the official said.

High health care costs are one of the key drivers of job vacancies. Annual fees at private medical colleges and deemed universities have roughly gone up ₹15 million ₹25 million and ₹30 crore, the report claimed.

“In many institutions the fees that were around ₹15 million has increased to ₹25 million up to ₹30 lakhs. Seats in government medical colleges and reputed private institutions are filling up. Vacancies are concentrated in some private universities. These institutions need to review their fee structures and the quality of education and infrastructure they offer. If the fees remain this high, increasing the number of seats will serve little purpose as students cannot afford them,” an official told TOI.

Karnataka Private Medical Colleges Cut MBBS Management Fees Upto 50%

Meanwhile, private medical colleges in Karnataka have slashed fees by up to 50 percent in management quota as seats remain vacant.

Some private medical colleges have reportedly cut the total cost of MBBS courses by almost half, reflecting the growing reluctance of students and their families to pay high fees for medical education.

Around 190 undergraduate quota seats remained vacant even after the regular admission process, prompting colleges to offer fee concessions to attract students, Deccan Herald reported. In some cases, the total course fee was allegedly reduced from the surrounding area ₹1.26 million to almost ₹65 million.

The fee reduction is significant for private institutions, as vacancies in the management quota can lead to significant revenue losses. Colleges rely on higher management fees and NRI quota to support their operations, while seats in other categories are offered at significantly lower rates.