Image for illustration purposes only. | Photo credit: File
Based on the Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) data for the academic session 2025-26, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have the highest number of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Post Graduate) or NEET PG 2025-26 vacancies across the country.
According to data recently released by the health ministry, over 18,000 postgraduate medical posts remained vacant in government and private medical colleges across India despite the completion of the 2nd round of counselling, prompting the National Examination Board for Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to revise the qualifying percentile. NBEMS said that the qualifying percentile limit for NEET PG third round has been reduced to zero this year for reserved categories.
Meanwhile, all the three states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have more than 2,000 seats each under private, management and NRI quotas. According to central government data, the number of postgraduate medical posts has increased from 40,858 in 2020 to around 80,291 posts, including 17,707 Diplomate National Board (DNB) and diploma posts.
The subjects with the maximum number of vacancies include microbiology, pathology, biochemistry, forensic medicine and pharmacology. The fields of general medicine, radiodiagnostics, general surgery, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology and paediatrics continue to be the most in demand.
The NEET PG 2025 results were declared on August 19, 2025. NBEMS conducted the NEET PG 2025 exam on August 3 last year, where more than 2.42 lakh candidates appeared for the test. The exam was conducted in one shift on a computer platform in 301 cities and 1052 test centers.
Explaining why a large number of seats remain vacant across the country, Rohan Krishnan, Chief Patron of the All India Medical Association, said that while the lowering of the NEET PG qualifying percentile undermines the credibility of the exam, the fee structure of private colleges, which starts at ₹20,000 and goes up to ₹4 million, is the primary deterrent.
“Unaffordable cost of education, reluctance to choose non-clinical subjects, lack of good teaching staff, infrastructure, patient burden and stipends are also issues that need to be addressed immediately if we want to ensure that NEET PG seats are filled,” said a senior doctor.
Published – 27 Jan 2026 20:03 IST
