Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026: 400 New MBBS Seats Added, Qualified Candidates Drop 14.65%
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Maharashtra heads into NEET UG Counselling 2026 with two contrasting numbers on the table. On one side, the state has gained 400 new MBBS seats under the NMC's revised 2026-27 seat matrix, taking its total MBBS capacity to 13,099. On the other, the number of candidates who actually qualified NEET UG 2026 from Maharashtra has dropped sharply, from 1,25,727 last year to 1,07,304 this year, a fall of 14.65%. More seats and fewer qualifiers is an unusual combination, and it changes the competition picture for this year's state counselling in a meaningful way.
Maharashtra NEET UG 2026: Registration, Appearance and Qualification Numbers
Maharashtra remained the second-largest NEET UG applicant pool in the country in 2026, behind only Uttar Pradesh. Here is how this year's numbers compare with last year's.
Table
| Metric | NEET UG 2025 | NEET UG 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates registered | Not directly comparable (state-level) | 2,22,849 | - |
| Candidates appeared | 2,42,858 | 2,01,100 | Down ~17.2% |
| Candidates qualified | 1,25,727 | 1,07,304 | Down 14.65% |
4 columns · 4 rows
The drop in qualified candidates is notable because Maharashtra has historically been one of the most consistent contributors to NEET UG's qualified pool, alongside Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. A double-digit decline changes how tight the state-quota merit list is likely to be this year, particularly in the middle score bands where most state quota admissions happen.
400 New MBBS Seats: What Changed in Maharashtra's Seat Matrix
As part of the NMC's national MBBS seat matrix release for the 2026-27 academic session, Maharashtra was allotted 400 additional MBBS seats, taking its overall MBBS seat strength to 13,099. This addition came alongside two new private medical colleges approved for the state, part of a broader national expansion that added 9,911 new MBBS seats and 25 new colleges across India this year.
- Maharashtra's total MBBS seats for 2026-27: 13,099 (up by 400 from the previous session)
- Two new private medical colleges approved for Maharashtra under the 2026-27 matrix
- Government medical colleges in Maharashtra: 43 institutions offering roughly 6,075 MBBS seats, including AFMC Pune, AIIMS Nagpur, and ESIC Medical College, Mumbai
- The remaining seats are spread across private and deemed medical colleges, filled through state quota, AIQ, or 100% AIQ deemed counselling depending on the institution
- Nationally, government colleges contributed 400 of the newly added seats and private colleges contributed 2,000, from 7 new government and 18 new private colleges respectively
It is worth noting that not every new seat in Maharashtra's tally goes through the state's own CET Cell counselling. Deemed universities in the state, several of which added capacity this year, are filled entirely through the Medical Counselling Committee's All India Quota process rather than the state quota rounds.
How Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026 Works
Maharashtra runs a two-track counselling system, same as every other state, but with a few state-specific rules worth knowing before registration opens.
- State quota (85% of government college seats, plus government-aided and private/minority college seats): conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell), Maharashtra, under the Directorate of Technical Education
- All India Quota (15% of government college seats, plus 100% of AIIMS Nagpur, AFMC Pune, and deemed university seats): conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)
- Maharashtra is treated as a closed state for state quota purposes, meaning a valid Maharashtra domicile certificate is mandatory to compete for the 85% state-quota share
- The entire process, except the final institute-reporting and document-verification step, is conducted online
- Counselling is expected to begin in August 2026, shortly after the NEET UG 2026 result, which NTA declared on July 16, 2026
Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026: Eligibility Essentials
- Must have qualified NEET UG 2026 with the minimum required percentile: 50th for General/EWS, 40th for OBC/SC/ST
- Must hold a valid Maharashtra domicile certificate to compete for the 85% state quota seats
- Domicile is generally established through Class 10 from a Maharashtra institute, or Class 12 from Maharashtra with a valid domicile certificate if Class 10 was completed elsewhere
- Minimum age of 17 years as on December 31, 2026; there is no prescribed upper age limit
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English, with at least 50% marks (40% for reserved categories)
- State-recognised OBC sub-categories in Maharashtra include VJ (Vimukta Jati), NT-B, NT-C, NT-D, SEBC, and OBC, in addition to the central reservation categories
The State CET Cell holds Maharashtra NEET UG counselling for 85% of state quota seats, while the Medical Counselling Committee conducts counselling for the remaining 15% under the All India Quota.
Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026: Process, Step by Step
- Online registration on the CET Cell's dedicated NEET UG counselling portal, released after the NEET UG result
- Document upload: NEET UG scorecard, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, domicile certificate, category certificate (if applicable), and photo ID
- Provisional merit list release based on NEET UG rank, category, and domicile status
- Choice filling across government, government-aided, and private/minority colleges under state quota
- Choice locking before the deadline for each round
- Seat allotment result declared online
- Institute reporting and physical document verification at the allotted college within the stipulated window
- Participation in subsequent rounds (Round 2, Mop-Up, and any Institutional/Stray Vacancy rounds) for candidates who wish to upgrade or were not allotted a seat
Candidates should also register separately on the MCC portal if they wish to be considered for All India Quota seats, government college seats reserved nationally, or 100% AIQ deemed university seats in Maharashtra such as several DY Patil campuses. The two tracks run in parallel and require independent registration.
What the Numbers Mean for This Year's Aspirants
A 14.65% drop in qualified candidates against a state seat increase of 400 changes the arithmetic of competition, though not dramatically, given Maharashtra's total pool still runs well over a lakh qualified candidates against roughly 13,099 MBBS seats across all quotas and college types. The effect is likely to be felt more at the margins, in mid-range government colleges and mid-tier private colleges where a few thousand fewer competitors can shift closing ranks meaningfully between Round 1 and the Mop-Up round.
- Fewer overall qualifiers can mean slightly softer closing ranks in the 400-550 marks range, where most private and government-aided college admissions happen
- The 400 additional seats are concentrated in a mix of new government and private colleges, so their exact impact depends on which institutions and districts they belong to
- Deemed university seats added this year fall outside CET Cell counselling and are filled only through MCC's AIQ process
- Candidates should not assume softer competition automatically means lower cutoffs at every college; established government colleges in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur typically remain highly competitive regardless of statewide trends
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026
- Assuming a Maharashtra domicile is automatic without checking the exact Class 10/12 school requirement
- Registering only for state quota and skipping MCC registration, missing out on AIQ and deemed university options
- Not verifying whether a target private college is filled through CET Cell state quota or 100% through MCC AIQ, since deemed universities follow a different route entirely
- Filling too few choices in the choice list and missing out on colleges where the closing rank was actually within reach
- Ignoring later rounds such as Mop-Up and Institutional/Stray Vacancy rounds, where seats in both new and existing colleges often open up
- Delaying document preparation, since domicile and category certificates in the correct format take time to obtain
Frequently Asked Questions on Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026
Quick answers to the questions most Maharashtra NEET UG candidates are asking right now.
Internal Resources: Predictors, Colleges & Counselling
The tools and college pages below are grouped together for quick reference, rather than scattered through the article.
- NEET UG College Predictor
- NEET PG College Predictor
- College Predictor Hub (All Exams)
- Medical College Predictor
- NEET UG Exam Page
- Top Medical Colleges in India
- Top Colleges in India (All Streams)
- Book a Free Counselling Session
- Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital, Mumbai
- Grant Medical College, Mumbai
- MBBS Colleges in India
- Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai
- Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Kolhapur
- NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur
- AIIMS, Nagpur
- Government Medical College, Buldhana
Official Government Portals
- NTA NEET UG Official Portal
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) - All India Quota
- State CET Cell, Maharashtra - State Quota Counselling
- National Medical Commission (NMC)
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
For the latest official notifications, schedule changes, and merit list updates, always cross-check directly with the authorities listed above rather than relying solely on third-party summaries.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many new MBBS seats has Maharashtra added for 2026-27?
Maharashtra has been allotted 400 additional MBBS seats under the NMC's 2026-27 seat matrix, taking the state's total MBBS seat strength to 13,099.
How much did qualified candidates from Maharashtra drop in NEET UG 2026?
Qualified candidates from Maharashtra fell from 1,25,727 in NEET UG 2025 to 1,07,304 in NEET UG 2026, a decline of 14.65%.
Who conducts Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026?
The State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell), Maharashtra, under the Directorate of Technical Education, conducts counselling for the 85% state quota. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts counselling for the 15% All India Quota and 100% of deemed university seats in the state.
Is Maharashtra domicile mandatory for state quota MBBS seats?
Yes. Maharashtra is a closed state for state quota purposes, and a valid Maharashtra domicile certificate is mandatory to compete for the 85% state quota seats.
When is Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling 2026 expected to begin?
Counselling is expected to begin in August 2026, shortly after the declaration of the NEET UG 2026 result, which NTA announced on July 16, 2026. The exact schedule is released by the CET Cell separately.
How many government medical colleges does Maharashtra have?
Maharashtra has 43 government medical colleges offering roughly 6,075 MBBS seats, including AFMC Pune, AIIMS Nagpur, and ESIC Medical College, Mumbai, in addition to state government colleges affiliated with MUHS Nashik.
Are all Maharashtra medical college seats filled through CET Cell counselling?
No. Deemed universities in Maharashtra, including several private medical colleges, are filled entirely through the MCC's All India Quota counselling and do not participate in CET Cell state quota rounds.
Does a lower number of qualified candidates guarantee lower cutoffs this year?
Not necessarily for every college. A statewide drop in qualified candidates can ease competition in the mid-range score bands, but established government colleges in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur typically remain highly competitive regardless of overall statewide trends.
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