Only 2% students allotted seats in govt medical colleges retained

Only 2% students allotted seats in govt medical colleges retained

Pushpa.Narayan@timesofindia.com 09.09.2025

Chennai : Only 14% of students who were allotted MBBS seats by Central Medical Counselling Committee joined govt colleges allotted to them, and only 2% retained their seats, an analysis of the seat matrix released by the committee shows. Of the 835 seats in 38 govt run colleges in TN, including AIIMS Madurai, Central committee allotted students to 824 seats through online counselling. The seats are allotted based on merit in NEET-2025, the rule of reservation, and students’ choices. Students were asked to join colleges by Aug 22. 

The data on vacancies for Round 2 counselling released by the committee shows that 707 candidates used the ‘free exit’ option, either to select a better college from the options provided by respective state counselling committees, or to look for better choices in the subsequent rounds. Among the 114 students who joined the colleges allocated to them, 95 students chose an ‘upgrade’. These seats, considered virtual vacancies, will be allocated to students if the candidate is admitted to another college of their choice, or will be retained by the same candidate. 

All states surrender 15% of seats in state-run colleges for admission under the allIndia quota. The Central committee allots students to allIndia quota seats and all seats in Central institutions and deemed universities. Across India, 7,140 seats are vacant, data shows. Experts say Round 1 of medical counselling has become redundant as state allows students who opt for the seat to exit freely. “The students are given the seat only if they opt for it. I understand if they want to upgrade. If they decide to quit, they should not be allowed to participate in the process any further,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. Meanwhile, in deemed universities across the country, all 9,244 seats were allotted, and 6,314 joined the college. Among these, 3,202 candidates (35%) retained the seats.

“Deemed university fee is higher but students who don’t have high scores and therefore have poor chances of admission in govt or self-financing colleges apply for them. In these colleges, cut-offs increase in Round 2,” said S Shanmugaprasad, a NEET coach. In the second round of counselling, 2,930 seats from Round 1 and 623 newly added seats will be vacant. In TN, three deemed universities — Sri Lalithambigai Medical College, Bharath Medical College, and Vels Medical College — have been given 50 additional seats each. Vacancies in state medical colleges are yet to be released by the state counselling committee. Officials said they are waiting for Centre to release the list of new colleges and additional seats granted to existing colleges in TN to prepare the seat matrix for Round 2 of counselling.