More than 800 medical seats still remain vacant across deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. These seats remain vacant after the final counselling has been conducted for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026.
As per a PTI report, the reason behind so many medical seats remaining vacant is high tuition fees.
Quoting Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) sources, PTI reported claimed that of the total 837 unfilled MBBS seats across the country (including All India Quota seats), 824 were vacant in deemed universities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry alone.
Explaining the reasoning behind this, P B Prince Gajendra Babu, senior educationist and general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System, Tamil Nadu (SPCSS-TN), told PTI that NEET high-scorers from financially disadvantaged backgrounds often opt out of the admission process if they cannot afford the high fees charged by private institutions. As a result, such candidates do not apply for counselling.
“The lesser scorer who is financially sound applies and secures the seat,” he was quoted by PTI, adding, “NEET failed in both of its objectives – neither ensure merit nor curb commercialisation of medical education.” He further added that all private medical education institutions, including those deemed to be universities that cannot reduce their fee structure and keep the seats unfilled, must be closed.
“The state governments should be encouraged to open an adequate number of medical colleges wherever needed,” he added.
Experts also shared that annual MBBS fees in deemed universities across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry range between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 35 lakh per year. “The students have to pay hostel and mess fees between Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh per year in private institutions. In contrast, the average annual fee across other parts of India in private institutions stands at around Rs 17 lakh, resulting in a substantial fee disparity over the four and a half year duration of the course,” A Srinath, a higher education career counsellor for the students in the city, told PTI.
With several seats still vacant, another round of counselling may be conducted. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will take a final call on whether to hold an additional round.
(With inputs from PTI)
