Rs 15 lakh MBBS fees rise to Rs 30 lakh: 411 medical seats remain unallotted even after five rounds of NEET counselling, raises private college affordability concerns

More than 400 MBBS seats remain without takers even after five rounds of NEET counselling, including a special stray vacancy round conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). Of the 948 vacant seats included in the latest round, only 537 were allotted, leaving 411 unfilled.

The vacancies have raised fresh questions about the affordability of private medical education, with fees at some institutions reportedly increasing from around Rs 15 lakh to Rs 25 lakh-Rs 30 lakh. While the allotment figures do not establish why individual candidates did not opt for these seats, high fees could be one of the factors discouraging NEET-qualified students.

411 MBBS seats remain vacant after special counselling round

According to a report by The Times of India, the MCC conducted a special stray vacancy round to fill MBBS seats that remained vacant after the regular counselling process.


The seat matrix for this round included 948 vacant seats. However, only 537 were allotted, leaving 411 seats unfilled even after the additional opportunity.

A health ministry official told TOI that the number of vacant seats was significantly higher than last year, when only around 60-70 MBBS seats remained unfilled.

The official said the Supreme Court had directed the authorities to conduct four rounds of counselling, while the MCC went ahead with a fifth round as well. Despite the additional round, more than 400 seats remained without allotments.

Private medical college fees rise from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh

The rising cost of medical education has emerged as a major concern amid the vacant seats.

According to the health ministry official quoted by TOI, fees at some institutions that were earlier around Rs 15 lakh have increased to between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 30 lakh.

The official said government medical college seats and seats at reputed private institutions were getting filled, while vacancies were concentrated in certain private medical colleges.

The difference in demand has brought attention to the fee structures of institutions that continue to have vacant seats despite multiple counselling opportunities.

The official said these colleges need to review both their fees and the quality of education and infrastructure they provide.

“If fees remain this high, increasing the number of seats will serve little purpose as students can't afford them,” the official told TOI.

Vacant seats raise questions about affordability of private medical education

The latest figures have brought the issue of access to private medical education into focus.

Students who qualify NEET may still face financial limitations when choosing among available MBBS seats, particularly when the annual or course-related fee commitments are high.

However, the 411 unallotted seats do not by themselves establish that fees were the reason candidates did not take admission.

The health ministry official has also pointed to the need for private colleges with vacant seats to reassess their pricing, education standards and infrastructure.