The Madhya Pradesh Directorate of Medical Education has released the NEET UG 2026 state merit list, with 17,093 candidates registered for MBBS and BDS admissions through the state counselling process.

The numbers show a sharp rise in competition as compared with last year, when 15,897 candidates were registered against 5,550 MBBS seats in the state.

Candidates included in the merit list can participate in the counselling process and submit their college and course preferences according to the prescribed schedule.

6,020 MBBS Seats Across MP

Madhya Pradesh currently has 6,020 MBBS seats across 34 medical colleges.

Of these, 3,020 seats are in 20 government medical colleges, while 3,000 seats are in 14 private medical colleges, according to the latest figures reported by The Times of India.

However, students and parents should not interpret all 6,020 seats as seats available through the MP state counselling quota.

The distinction is important because only 4,409 MBBS seats are available to candidates through the MP state counselling process. The remaining seats are accounted for under other applicable admission routes and quotas.

Why 4,409 Seats Matter

The headline figure of 6,020 represents the overall MBBS capacity in Madhya Pradesh. The 4,409-seat figure is the more relevant number for candidates competing through the state's counselling process.

This means the effective competition is considerably tighter than a simple comparison of 17,093 candidates with 6,020 total seats might suggest.

Seat availability can also vary by category, college, quota and counselling round. Candidates therefore need to check the official seat matrix and their applicable category before estimating their chances.

Government vs Private Colleges

Government medical colleges account for 3,020 of the state's 6,020 MBBS seats, while private institutions account for another 3,000 seats.

The difference matters for families comparing college preferences and fee structures.

Candidates should not assume that a government-college seat will be available solely on the basis of the overall number of MBBS seats. Category-wise allocation, merit, domicile requirements and seat quotas determine which seats a candidate can actually compete for.

Category-Wise Competition

The merit list also shows significant variation in competition across categories.

There are 4,574 OBC candidates registered for counselling, including 2,166 boys and 2,408 girls. The state quota includes 613 MBBS seats for OBC candidates.

In the general category, 3,110 candidates have registered against 2,120 seats, giving an overall ratio of roughly 1.5 candidates per seat.

The EWS category has 1,279 registered candidates against 212 seats, making the competition substantially higher in that category.

Allotment on August 20

The first seat allotment for MP NEET UG counselling is scheduled for August 20, 2026.

Allotment will be based on candidates' merit and the preferences they submit during counselling. Students should carefully arrange their preferred colleges and courses before locking their choices.

The state counselling process is separate from the Medical Counselling Committee's All India Quota process. The MCC is handling counselling for 15% of MBBS and BDS seats under the All India Quota.

Check Merit, Choices and Seats

Candidates should regularly check the official Madhya Pradesh Directorate of Medical Education counselling portal for the latest schedule, seat matrix, merit list, choice-filling instructions and allotment results.

The state merit list contains 17,093 candidates. Aryaman Singh Solanki of Jabalpur secured State Rank 1 with 696 marks and an All India Rank of 46.

For students and parents, the key number to remember is therefore 4,409 — the number of MBBS seats available through the MP state counselling process — rather than treating the entire 6,020-seat capacity as directly available in the state quota.