The National Medical Commission (NMC) removed the 150-seat cap for MBBS admissions on 28 April 2026 by amending the Undergraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023. The amendment allows medical colleges to admit more than 150 students, subject to regulatory approval and other prescribed requirements.
MBBS Seat Regulation
The MBBS course in India is regulated under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, which replaced the Medical Council of India. The NMC is the statutory body responsible for medical education standards, registration of medical practitioners, and assessment of medical institutions.
- The earlier 150-seat ceiling limited the intake capacity of a medical college for the MBBS programme.
- The revised framework permits higher intake, and the earlier system allowed colleges to seek up to 250 MBBS seats in some cases.
- The change is linked to expansion of existing medical colleges and establishment of new medical institutions.
Seat Allocation and Distance Norms
The NMC also removed the population-based seat allocation rule that prescribed 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh population in a State or Union Territory. A new distance norm was introduced for the medical college and its attached hospital.
- The maximum distance between a medical college and its attached hospital is 10 km in general areas.
- The maximum distance is 15 km in North Eastern States and Himalayan States.
- The revised norms were notified through the Gazette of India on 27 April 2026.
Medical Education Context
India’s MBBS admissions are governed by national regulations on infrastructure, faculty, hospital linkage, and clinical training. States such as Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka have medical education systems with large numbers of colleges and expansion plans. More than 100 institutions had already applied under the earlier guidelines before the revised norms were issued. The new rules apply to MBBS seat expansion proposals processed under the amended UG-MSR 2023 framework.
Last Modified: April 29, 2026