NEET PG 2026 Seat Matrix: AIQ vs State Quota, DNB & Deemed University Seats
AditiUpdated on 18 Oct 2026, 08:23 PM IST
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If you are waiting on your NEET PG 2026 rank to turn into an actual MD or MS seat, the seat matrix is the document that matters more than your score card. It tells you exactly how many seats exist, who controls them, and which quota you need to fight for. Here is what the 2026 matrix actually shows, and where AIQ, state quota, DNB and deemed university seats fit into the picture.
NEET PG 2026 Seat Matrix: What's Confirmed So Far
The National Medical Commission (NMC) released the NEET PG 2026 seat matrix on September 29, 2026. As per this matrix, India has close to 58,000 MD, MS and PG Diploma seats this year, a rise of around 5,827 seats over last year's count of 52,173. This figure covers government and private medical colleges together, before any DNB or deemed university seats are added separately.
Keep two things in mind. This NMC matrix is a working document, not the final word, since seats approved later or added by court order appear through a revised matrix. It also lists college and course-wise numbers but does not itself decide the AIQ versus state quota split, which MCC and the states apply separately during counselling.
AIQ vs State Quota: How the Split Actually Works
For every state medical college, 50% of MD, MS and Diploma seats are reserved for the All India Quota (AIQ) and the remaining 50% stay with the state's own quota. This 50-50 rule does not apply to central institutes, deemed universities, ESIC, and armed forces medical colleges, where the picture changes.
Table
| Seat Category | Who Counsels It | Share of Seats |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ (state medical colleges) | Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) | 50% of each state college's seats |
| State Quota (state medical colleges) | Respective state counselling authority | Remaining 50% of each state college's seats |
| Central/Government institutes (AIIMS-type, JIPMER) | MCC | 100% of seats |
| Deemed University seats | MCC | 100% of seats |
| ESIC and Central Armed Police Force colleges | MCC | 100% of seats |
3 columns · 6 rows
A strong AIQ rank only gets you into the national pool. A large share of total seats still sits inside state-specific counselling, where domicile rules, local reservation categories and state cutoffs apply instead of the all-India list.
DNB Seats: Where They Fit and What's Still Awaited
Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seats are a separate category altogether, governed by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), not the NMC. DNB seats exist mainly in private and corporate hospitals that are accredited as DNB training centres, and they often go unnoticed by students who only track the MD/MS matrix.
- DNB broad-specialty and super-specialty seats are listed separately by NBEMS, not inside the NMC's MD/MS seat matrix.
- DNB (Diploma) seats that are counselled through MCC appear in the same matrix as MD/MS, since MCC handles both together for the 50% AIQ and 100% central-pool seats.
- Standalone DNB broad-specialty seats, run directly by NBEMS at accredited hospitals, are allotted through NBEMS's own counselling process, separate from MCC.
- As of the September 2026 NMC matrix release, a consolidated, confirmed DNB seat count for 2026 had not been published separately by NBEMS. Candidates should check the NBEMS portal directly rather than rely on any number not sourced from NBEMS itself.
If DNB is part of your plan, treat it as a parallel application track. Register on the NBEMS portal in addition to MCC, since missing the DNB-specific registration window means missing those seats entirely, regardless of your NEET PG rank.
Deemed University Seats: A Separate, Smaller Pool
What Counts as a Deemed University Seat
Deemed universities, such as several large private medical university groups, run their own MD/MS and Diploma programmes but are still brought into the central counselling fold for admission purposes. All deemed university seats, 100% of them, are counselled through MCC rather than any state body.
Media reports tracking the 2026 seat matrix have pointed to a deemed university seat count of roughly 7,000 for this cycle. This number has not been independently verified against an NBEMS or NMC primary source at the time of writing, so treat it as a reported estimate rather than a confirmed official figure, and check the latest MCC seat matrix PDF before relying on it.
Deemed university seats also come with a materially higher counselling fee than AIQ seats, since MCC charges a non-refundable fee plus a much larger refundable security deposit for deemed university registration compared to a standard AIQ registration.
NEET PG 2026 Counselling Schedule
MCC has released a round-wise schedule for the 2026 cycle covering seat matrix display, registration, choice filling, seat allotment and reporting. Treat these as the latest published dates and recheck the MCC website before every deadline, since rounds can shift.
Table
| Round | Registration & Payment | Choice Filling & Locking | Seat Allotment Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | October 12 to 21 | October 13 to 22 | October 24 |
| Round 2 | November 6 to 11 | November 7 to 12 | November 14 |
| Round 3 | November 26 to December 1 | November 27 to December 2 | December 4 |
| Stray Vacancy | December 16 to 21 | December 16 to 21 | December 24 |
4 columns · 5 rows
Registration Fees Across Seat Categories
Table
| Category | Non-refundable Fee | Refundable Security Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| 50% AIQ / Central institutes, General category | Rs 1,000 | Rs 25,000 |
| 50% AIQ / Central institutes, SC/ST/OBC category | Rs 500 | Rs 10,000 |
| Deemed Universities, all categories | Rs 5,000 | Rs 2,00,000 |
3 columns · 4 rows
The deemed university security deposit is roughly eight times the AIQ general-category deposit, so plan your finances before locking choices in that category, since the deposit is adjusted or forfeited as per MCC's own rules on withdrawal and reporting.
NEET PG 2026 Category-wise Qualifying Cutoff
The qualifying cutoff decides who is even eligible to register for counselling, separately from the merit rank used to allot seats. For 2026, the cutoff is reported against a total of 720 marks.
Table
| Category Group | Qualifying Percentile | Qualifying Marks (out of 720) |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50th percentile | 262 |
| General PwBD | 45th percentile | 244 |
| SC / ST / OBC (including PwBD within these categories) | 40th percentile | 226 |
3 columns · 4 rows
Clearing this cutoff only makes you eligible to register and fill choices. It does not guarantee a seat, since actual allotment depends on your all-India or state rank relative to every other registered candidate competing for the same course and category.
How to Check the Official NEET PG 2026 Seat Matrix
- For the NMC-level college and course matrix, visit the National Medical Commission website and look under its PG Medical seat matrix notices.
- For the AIQ and deemed university counselling seat matrix, visit the MCC portal and check the "PG Medical" tab under current events, where the matrix is released shortly before each round opens.
- For DNB seats, check the NBEMS website directly rather than the MCC or NMC matrix, since DNB broad-specialty seats are listed independently.
- For state quota seats, visit your respective state's Directorate of Medical Education or state counselling authority website, since state quota numbers are not part of the central MCC matrix.
- Always note the "as on" date printed on any seat matrix PDF. A matrix dated before a court order or a late-approved college addition will not reflect the most current seat count.
Internal Resources to Explore
These CaderaEdu pages cover the related exam, counselling and predictor details for NEET PG aspirants.
- NEET PG Exam Overview
- NEET PG 2026 Eligibility and Important Dates
- NEET PG Counselling 2026: AIQ and State Quota Schedule
- NEET PG Counselling 2026: MCC AIQ Rounds and Stray Vacancy
- Medical College Predictor
- CaderaEdu College Predictor (All Streams)
- MD Courses, Fees and Admission Guide
- MS Courses, Fees and Admission Guide
- Top Medical Colleges in India
- Medical Counselling Guidance Programme
- Latest Medical Counselling Updates
- Browse All Entrance Exams
- Book a Free Counselling Session
Official External Resources
Always confirm seat numbers, dates and quota rules on these official sources before filling or locking any choice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Has the NEET PG 2026 seat matrix been released or not?
Yes. The National Medical Commission released the NEET PG 2026 seat matrix on September 29, 2026, listing college and course-wise MD, MS and Diploma seats. MCC separately releases its own AIQ and deemed university seat matrix closer to each counselling round, so check both sources before choice filling.
How many seats are available in NEET PG 2026?
As per the NMC seat matrix, India has approximately 58,000 MD, MS and PG Diploma seats for 2026, an increase of around 5,827 seats over 2025. This figure does not include standalone DNB broad-specialty seats, which NBEMS lists separately.
What is the difference between AIQ and state quota seats?
AIQ seats make up 50% of every state medical college's MD/MS/Diploma intake and are allotted through MCC based on an all-India merit rank. The remaining 50% state quota seats stay with the respective state's own counselling authority and follow that state's domicile and reservation rules. Central institutes and deemed universities fall entirely under AIQ-style central counselling, with no state quota component.
How many DNB seats are there in NEET PG 2026?
A separate, confirmed total DNB seat count for 2026 has not been published by NBEMS as of the latest seat matrix release. DNB (Diploma) seats counselled through MCC appear within the combined MD/MS/Diploma matrix, while standalone DNB broad-specialty seats at accredited hospitals are listed and counselled independently by NBEMS. Check the NBEMS portal directly for the confirmed number.
How many deemed university seats are available in NEET PG 2026?
Media reports tracking this year's matrix have cited a figure of roughly 7,000 deemed university seats for 2026, but this number is not yet independently confirmed against an official NBEMS or MCC source. Treat it as a reported estimate and verify against the latest MCC seat matrix PDF before relying on it.
How do I check the NEET PG college-wise seat matrix?
For AIQ and deemed university seats, check the PG Medical tab on the MCC website, where the college and course-wise matrix is published ahead of each round. For state quota seats, check your state's Directorate of Medical Education or counselling authority portal separately, since state numbers are not part of the MCC matrix.
What is the NEET PG 2026 counselling schedule?
Round 1 registration runs roughly October 12 to 21, with seat allotment on October 24. Round 2 and Round 3 follow in November and early December, with a stray vacancy round in late December. Always confirm exact dates on the MCC website, since schedules can be revised.
What is the qualifying cutoff for NEET PG 2026?
Out of 720 marks, the qualifying cutoff is the 50th percentile (262 marks) for General and EWS candidates, the 45th percentile (244 marks) for General PwBD candidates, and the 40th percentile (226 marks) for SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwBD candidates within these categories.
Does a higher NEET PG score guarantee a seat in a government college?
No. Clearing the qualifying cutoff only makes you eligible to register and fill choices. Actual seat allotment depends on your merit rank relative to every other candidate competing for the same course, category and quota, along with seat availability in that specific round.