MBBS seats in Karnataka, 2026–27

Karnataka is the state with the largest number of MBBS seats in India. For a Karnataka student, that is good news, but the headline number hides how seats are divided between government and private colleges, and between quotas. Here is the picture for 2026–27, as of 2026.

The headline numbers

Sources: National Medical Commission seat matrix figures as reported in July and August 2026.

Where a Karnataka student's seat can come from

State quota through KEA

The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) fills 85% of seats in Karnataka government colleges, and a share of seats in private colleges, on NEET rank. Domicile and eligibility clauses apply, such as having studied in Karnataka for seven years (Clause A). Check the clauses in each year's KEA brochure.

All India Quota through MCC

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) fills 15% of government college seats across India, plus deemed universities, central institutions, AIIMS and JIPMER. Any eligible candidate in India can apply.

Private colleges in Karnataka

In non-minority private medical colleges, seats are shared roughly as follows:

Minority colleges follow a different split. In every case, seats are allotted on NEET rank through official counselling. There is no legal "direct admission" to an MBBS seat in India.

Deemed universities

Deemed universities in Karnataka fill their seats through MCC counselling, at fees set by the university, which are much higher than government fees.

Other healthcare seats in Karnataka through NEET

BSc Nursing and veterinary seats also use NEET through some channels.

How a seat actually reaches a student

A seat count is only half the story. Each seat sits in a quota, and each quota has its own counselling, eligibility rules and fee. A Karnataka student with a given rank might be eligible for a state-quota government seat, an All India Quota seat in another state, a government-quota seat in a Karnataka private college, and a private-quota seat, all in the same year, at very different fees. Knowing these doors before the result helps a family choose calmly.

Government seats are the most contested

Government colleges charge the lowest fees, so their seats close at the highest ranks. In 2026, KEA's first-round general-merit seats in government colleges closed at around AIR 55,000, and the most sought-after Bengaluru college at around AIR 1,800. Read NEET marks for MBBS in Karnataka for the detail.

Deemed and private seats are more numerous, and costlier

More than half of Karnataka's MBBS seats are in private and deemed colleges. They give many more students the chance to study medicine in the state, at fees that can be many times those of a government seat.

What the numbers mean for a student

Karnataka's large seat count is an advantage, but government seats, the most affordable, are still a small fraction of the students competing for them. In 2026 Karnataka had about 65,901 candidates who qualified NEET, competing alongside students from across India for All India Quota and private seats.

The practical message: aim for a rank that secures a government seat, and know in advance which other seats and courses your rank would open. Our guide to NEET marks for MBBS in Karnataka shows 2026 closing ranks, and MBBS fees in Karnataka shows what each seat type costs.

Keep these numbers current

Seat numbers change every year as new colleges open and existing ones add seats: India added about 9,911 MBBS seats in 2026. Check the NMC and KEA seat matrices each counselling season.