NEET UG 2026 counselling: 824 MBBS seats vacant in TN, Puducherry due to high fees

As of October 23, 2026, 837 MBBS seats across the country, including All India Quota seats, remain vacant following the NEET UG 2026 counselling process. A significant majority of these, 824 seats, are located in deemed universities within Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, according to sources from the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).

The primary reason cited for these vacant seats is the high tuition fees, which range from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 35 lakh annually at deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. This is notably higher than the average annual fee of approximately Rs 17 lakh at private medical institutions in other parts of the country.

High Fees and Vacant Seats in Deemed Universities

The substantial tuition fees, coupled with additional annual hostel and mess charges of Rs 1.2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh, are identified by educationists and industry experts as a major barrier to admissions. P B Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), stated that NEET has not achieved its objectives of ensuring merit or curbing the commercialisation of medical education. He noted that financially sound candidates with lower scores often secure seats, while high-scoring candidates from economically weaker backgrounds are unable to afford admission due to the lack of a fee cap for deemed universities.

A Srinath, a higher education career counsellor, highlighted the significant disparity in fees between deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and private institutions elsewhere. Gajendra Babu has advocated for state governments to establish more medical colleges and for private institutions unable to lower their fees to consider closure rather than leaving seats vacant.

Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Counselling Status

The Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) Puducherry opened online registration for NEET UG 2026 counselling on July 30, 2026. The Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Round 2 Revised Vacancy List was released on October 5, 2026, providing an updated overview of available seats for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, and B.V.Sc. & A.H. courses. An additional provisional allotment list for five MBBS candidates was also released, with admissions contingent on the final outcome of a case pending before the Madras High Court.

Candidates were previously required to pay a registration fee of Rs 10,000 for general candidates under government quota and Rs 1 lakh under management quota. For SC/ST/OBC/MBC/EBC/BCM/BT candidates, the fee was Rs 5,000 under government quota and Rs 50,000 under management quota for a previous counselling round, with a deadline of 5pm on July 27 for fee deposit. CENTAC Puducherry’s registration page does not display dates, fees, or document lists; these details are available in the official Brochure and Press Release. Candidates are advised that duplicate applications will lead to cancellation of candidature, and registration details cannot be changed once submitted.

Seat Distribution and Fees at IGMC&Ri, Puducherry

Indira Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute (IGMC&RI), Puducherry, offers 180 MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic year. These seats are divided into 131 Government Quota (including EWS), 22 NRI, and 27 All India Quota seats. While tuition fees are nil for Puducherry UT/AIQ candidates, a mandatory annual academic fee of Rs 1,43,700 applies. A penalty of Rs 4,00,000 is imposed for discontinuing the MBBS course at IGMC&RI after the counselling deadline.

The annual fee structure for Puducherry UT and AIQ MBBS candidates at IGMC&RI includes various non-refundable charges along with a refundable caution deposit. Hostel charges at IGMC&RI vary based on occupancy, with additional utility and establishment fees.

Revised Vacancy Position After Round 2

The Puducherry NEET UG 2026 Round 2 Revised Vacancy List, issued on October 5, 2026, provides a detailed breakdown of remaining seats across various institutions and quotas. Seat availability is subject to change after each counselling round due to factors such as non-joining, withdrawal, or upgradation.

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has not yet confirmed whether another counselling round will be conducted for NEET UG 2026. Candidates are advised to monitor official announcements from the MCC and state authorities for further updates.

Further reading

• NEET: Do not pay cash for admission; fraud surfaced October 10, 2026
• NEET UG 2026 Round 3 admissions conclude for MBBS at Medical College, Kolkata
• NEET cutoff: previous closing ranks and marks Next step
• KCET registration 2027 to open tentatively in January, application fee details
• KEAM 2026: Apply for 84 MBBS, 106 BDS stray seats. CEE to announce dates
• NEET: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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