MBBS Seats in India

Most of the medical candidates in India look for government MBBS seats by scoring high in NEET exams. MBBS seats in India are limited & the competition is vast. The NEET entrance exam is compulsory for candidates who want to pursue medical studies under the MBBS course. NEET is conducted for MBBS seats in India by the central board of secondary education annually. There is no other national level entrance exam other than NEET for total MBBS seats in India.

The cut-off percentage for MBBS seats in India

The cut-off mark for MBBS seats in India for the general category is 50%, and for SC/ST/OBC categories, it is 40%. There is vast competition for the MBBS entrance examination due to the number of seats for colleges in India that provide the MBBS course is shallow, and the number of candidates is high. The students must score high ranks in order to get admission to top MBBS colleges in India.

Eligibility to get MBBS seat in India

The candidates who have passed 12 exams in physics, chemistry, and biology are eligible to get a seat in the MBBS course.

The candidates must clear the All India Entrance Exam (NEET).

The candidates should have completed 17 years as of 31st December of the year of admission.

Entrance examinations to get MBBS seats in India

Entrance examinations are conducted at the central level and the university level for the allocation of MBBS seats.

AIIMS: All India Institute of medical science entrance examination

AIPMT: All India – Pre-Medical / Pre-Dental Entrance Exam (AIPMT) / National Entrance & Eligibility Test (NEET)

15% of the total seats in all medical & dental colleges in India are reserved for candidates who top the NEET examination.

State-level entrance exams

All state governments are expected to fill their 85% quota of their medical seats on the basis of the NEET score.

Here are some critical facts about MBBS seats in India:

Number of MBBS seats: Around 67,000 MBBS seats are available in over 540 medical colleges in India as of 2024.

Types of MBBS seats: The seats are broadly categorized as All India Quota (AIQ) seats and State Quota seats. Around 15% of seats come under AIQ, and the remaining 85% come under State Quota.

AIQ Seats: These seats are filled through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). 15% AIQ seats are further divided into AIQ and Central Institutes/Universities seats.

State Quota Seats: These seats are filled by the respective states/institutions based on candidates' NEET scores and eligibility criteria set by them. Each state has its counseling procedure.

Increase in seats: The number of MBBS seats has increased significantly over the years, from around 51,000 in 2014 to 67,000 in 2024. The current government has opened several new medical colleges to boost healthcare infrastructure.

Reservation: For both AIQ and state quota seats, reservation policies apply as per central and state government rules, respectively. Around 50% of seats are reserved for specific categories.

Eligibility: NEET qualification, minimum 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in 12th board exams are some critical eligibility criteria set by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

In summary, 67,000 MBBS seats are now available in India annually, and the availability has improved significantly in recent years. Performance in the NEET exam and board exams, along with eligibility criteria, determine a candidate's chance of getting an MBBS seat.

Total Government MBBS seats in India for the general category ;

Based on available data, the approximate number of MBBS seats in government medical colleges under the general classification in India is as follows:

Total number of MBBS seats in government colleges: Around 40,000

Seats under All India Quota: 15% of total seats, i.e., around 6,000

Remaining seats under State Quota: Around 34,000

Seats reserved for SC/ST/OBC categories: Around 50% as per reservation policy, which is around 17,000 seats

Remaining general category seats: Around 17,000

So, the total number of MBBS seats in government medical colleges under the general category in India is approximately 17,000.

However, the exact number may vary for different states and colleges. Also, the reservation percentages can differ slightly based on state-specific policies. But overall, out of around 40,000 total MBBS seats in government colleges, about 17,000 seats are available for the general category across India annually.

What is a good score in NEET in general?

Here are some key points about what is considered a good NEET score for the general category:

NEET is the national medical entrance exam for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in India. It is highly competitive, with over 15 lakh students appearing each year.

The NEET exam score ranges from 0 to 720. General category students need to score higher to qualify and get a good rank.

For available category students, a score above 600 is considered a perfect score in NEET. This can help secure admission into top government medical colleges.

A score between 500-600 is reasonably good for the general category. With this score, one can aim for lower to mid-ranked government colleges or good private colleges.

The 50th percentile score for unreserved category students is around 145 marks as per previous years' cut-offs. But going above 200+ effects is advisable for better college options.

The minimum eligibility mark for the general category is also the 50th percentile. However, securing that bare minimum score will only limit the college options to newer or less popular private colleges.

Apart from just the score, ranking and performance relative to other applicants in your category also impact admission chances.

So, in summary, for general category students, aiming for 600+ out of 720 marks gives the best shot for medical admissions into reputed government medical colleges through NEET.