The Medical Counselling Committee MCC and National Medical Commission NMC have released the seat matrix for NEET PG 2026 counselling for postgraduate medical admissions for the 2026 to 27 academic year.
According to the latest seat matrix, around 58,000 MD, MS and postgraduate diploma seats are available through the counselling process. This represents an increase from the 52,173 seats reported for the previous academic year. The increase provides candidates with a larger number of postgraduate medical seats across different institutions and specialities.
The seat matrix is an important document for candidates participating in NEET PG counselling because it provides details about the available postgraduate medical seats. Candidates can use the information to check seat availability across participating institutions, courses and categories before making their counselling choices.
The latest information indicates that the increase in seats is not limited to a single type of institution. Private and deemed universities have reported a significant increase in available seats, while government medical colleges have also recorded an increase. Reports indicate that seats in private and deemed institutions have increased by around 32 percent, while government medical colleges have recorded an increase of up to 10 percent.
Several postgraduate specialities have also recorded an increase in seats for the 2026 to 27 academic year. These include anaesthesiology, ophthalmology, ENT, pathology, psychiatry and respiratory medicine, according to the latest reports on the seat matrix.
The seat matrix will be used by the MCC during the counselling process for postgraduate medical courses. Candidates who have qualified for NEET PG 2026 should carefully examine the available seats before making their preferences during counselling.
Along with the release of the seat matrix, the MCC has announced an important update for Persons with Disabilities PwD candidates participating in Round 1 of NEET PG counselling.
The PwD registration and assessment process will begin on October 1, 2026. Candidates applying under the PwD category are required to complete the prescribed medical assessment within the specified period before participating in the counselling process.
According to the latest MCC notice, the Primary Medical Assessment Board will be available from October 1 at 5 pm until October 9, 2026. PwD candidates have been advised to visit the designated Primary Medical Assessment Centre within this period and complete their assessment before the deadline.
The medical assessment is an important part of the counselling process for candidates seeking admission under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities category. The assessment is intended to establish the relevant disability status and eligibility for the PwD category under the applicable medical education guidelines.
The MCC website currently lists a specific notice for PwD assessment for PG Round 1 2026. It also lists the final guidelines concerning Persons with Benchmark Disabilities for postgraduate medical courses received from the National Medical Commission on September 16, 2026.
Candidates should therefore check the latest instructions issued by the MCC and NMC before completing the registration and assessment process. The requirements and documents applicable to PwD candidates should be followed exactly as specified in the official counselling notices.
The NEET PG counselling process is conducted by the MCC for eligible postgraduate medical seats under the applicable All India counselling framework. The MCC is responsible for conducting online counselling and seat allotment for the relevant postgraduate medical seats.
The release of the 2026 seat matrix is an important step ahead of the counselling process because candidates need institution-wise and course-wise information before filling their choices. The matrix enables candidates to compare the number and type of seats available in different medical colleges and postgraduate specialities.
The increase to approximately 58,000 seats also marks a rise of about 11 percent compared with the 52,173 seats reported for the previous year. This means that the 2026 seat matrix contains roughly 5,827 additional MD, MS and postgraduate diploma seats compared with the previous figure.
However, candidates should not assume that every additional seat will be available to every category or at every institution. Seat availability depends on the individual course, medical college, category, quota and counselling rules. Candidates should therefore refer to the official seat matrix rather than relying only on overall seat numbers.
The latest seat matrix also covers postgraduate medical admissions across government, private and deemed medical institutions. Candidates should review the institution-wise details carefully before submitting their choices.
For PwD candidates, the October 1 start date is particularly important. Candidates must complete the medical assessment within the specified window, which ends at 5 pm on October 9 according to the current notice. Missing the assessment deadline could affect participation in the relevant counselling process, so candidates should follow the instructions provided by MCC and the designated medical assessment authorities.
Candidates should also monitor the official MCC website regularly for registration dates, choice filling schedules, seat allotment announcements, reporting instructions and subsequent counselling rounds. Counselling schedules can be updated through official notices, and candidates should rely on the latest version available on the MCC portal.
The NEET PG 2026 results have already been declared by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. Candidates participating in counselling should keep their NEET PG result, score details, identity documents, category certificates and other required records ready for the admission process.
The seat matrix should also not be confused with the final allotment result. The matrix only indicates the seats available for the counselling process. Actual seat allotment will depend on candidates' eligibility, merit, category, choices, seat availability and the rules applicable to each counselling round.
The release of the matrix therefore gives candidates an opportunity to review their options before the counselling process advances. Candidates should examine the details of their preferred speciality and institution and make choices according to the official counselling guidelines.
For PwD applicants, completing the medical assessment within the prescribed period is an additional requirement for the relevant category. The MCC has specifically advised candidates to visit the designated Primary Medical Assessment Centre during the assessment window.
With the Round 1 PwD process scheduled to begin on October 1, candidates should avoid waiting until the final day to complete the required medical assessment. They should check the official MCC instructions for the designated centre, required documents and other applicable procedures.
The latest update therefore brings two major developments for NEET PG 2026 counselling. First, the expanded seat matrix provides details of around 58,000 MD, MS and postgraduate diploma seats. Second, the PwD Round 1 registration and medical assessment process is scheduled to begin on October 1.
Candidates should use the official MCC website as the primary source for counselling notifications, seat matrices, registration information and subsequent allotment updates. The official portal currently lists the PwD assessment notice and other PG counselling information for the 2026 session.
