Karnataka MBBS admission 2026 has concluded with 191 medical seats remaining vacant despite multiple counselling rounds. The Directorate of Medical Education has approached the National Medical Commission to reduce the NEET-UG qualifying percentile and improve seat allotment.

Bengaluru: Karnataka has reported 191 vacant MBBS seats following the completion of its medical admission process on Monday, marking an unusual situation for the state, which has not witnessed medical seat vacancies of this nature in the past five years. All Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) seats have reportedly been filled.

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) conducted two additional seat allotment rounds to address the vacancies. Following the second stray vacancy round on Sunday, 273 medical seats remained unfilled. The subsequent allotment process helped accommodate additional candidates, although several MBBS seats continued to remain vacant.

During the morning allotment round, KEA allocated 62 MBBS and six BDS seats. The evening round resulted in the allotment of another 22 MBBS and five BDS seats.

KEA Executive Director H Prasanna indicated that the authority could conduct further counselling rounds if the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) grants permission to fill the remaining vacancies.

Karnataka Requests NMC to Reduce NEET-UG Qualifying Cutoff

The Directorate of Medical Education (DME) has reportedly written to the National Medical Commission (NMC), seeking a reduction in the NEET-UG qualifying percentile. The move aims to make more candidates eligible for medical admissions and improve the utilisation of available seats.

DME Director Sujatha Rathod confirmed that the existing qualifying percentile stands at 50 and stated that the department has requested the NMC to lower it by a few points.

High Management Quota Fees Contribute to Vacancies

High tuition fees for management quota seats have emerged as a major factor behind the vacant MBBS seats in Karnataka. According to reports, some private medical colleges are offering the complete 4.5-year MBBS course for approximately Rs 80 lakh, including hostel expenses.

Medical education experts have highlighted affordability as a major concern for students who cannot secure government medical seats but are unable to meet the financial requirements of private institutions.

The introduction of NRI quota seats in government medical colleges has also influenced the admission landscape. Around 105 seats across 14 government colleges are reportedly available at approximately Rs 25 lakh annually, compared with nearly Rs 40 lakh per year at certain private institutions.

Karnataka currently offers 15,395 MBBS seats, making it the state with the highest number of medical seats in India. With plans to establish medical colleges across districts, the state’s medical education capacity is expected to expand further.

The continuing vacancies have renewed discussions around medical education affordability, NEET-UG eligibility criteria and the need to make MBBS admissions more accessible to eligible students.