Exorbitant tuition fees keep PG seats vacant in medical colleges
Sonal Srivastava
timesofindia.com
Over 1000 postgraduate medical seats remain vacant in 2026 despite a steep reduction in qualifying cut offs. Traditionally most PG seats are filled by the end of the stray vacancy round with only 100 to 300 non clinical seats left unoccupied. This year however a combination of high private college fees evolving student preferences and the introduction of multiple compliance components for NRI Management quotas has left seats unfilled.
Several states reported vacancies in postgraduate medical seats. The breakup of unfilled seats reportedly shows significant vacancies across several states. Rajasthan has 333 vacant seats Maharashtra 300 Karnataka 783 and Tamil Nadu around 144 PG medical seats. In Ahmedabad alone private medical colleges have about 48 vacant seats. The large number of vacancies has prompted some states to extend the online counselling rounds.
Exorbitant fee structure appears to be a key deterrent. Annual tuition fees for some of these courses range from Rs 28 lakh for emergency medicine to as high as Rs 61 lakh for radiology with dermatology and orthopaedics costing upwards of Rs 45 lakh. Private colleges in Rajasthan reportedly ask for Rs 3 crore tuition fee for a three year MD programme under the NRI management quota.
Typically around 150 to 300 non clinical seats would remain vacant every year but this year the number of vacant seats is significantly higher. While government college seats in clinical branches are largely filled vacancies persist in two categories non clinical seats in government institutions and clinical seats in private colleges as the latter are impacted by high tuition fees says a health ministry official on condition of anonymity.
In the past non clinical branches largely had a few takers and high fees deterred candidates from opting for private colleges. If private institutions reduce their fees most clinical seats will get filled the official suggests.
Another emerging factor is the increasing tendency among candidates to drop a year and reattempt the exam for a preferred branch or government seat. With the next admission cycle approaching within months many students are unwilling to commit to expensive private seats or less preferred specialisations. Conducting more rounds now would disrupt the academic cycle even further says the official.
The mere availability of seats does not ensure their uptake as some candidates may prefer to wait reappear or pursue alternative pathways. A significant proportion of these vacancies is concentrated in non clinical and para clinical specialities and in remote or less preferred institutions. The authority reviews these trends to better align seat matrix with candidate preferences.
The counselling process is conducted for the All India Quota by the central government and for the state quota by the respective state counselling authorities. While the system is largely transparent and digital further synchronisation of counselling schedules is being undertaken to optimise seat utilisation. The authority plans to develop strategies to adopt a more dynamic policy approach aligning the accreditation of specialities with evolving healthcare needs.
With government tightening regulations there has been an elimination of fake cases. Only NRI candidates are admitted under the NRI quota now. Applicants must provide proof of relationship through an official family tree certificate or equivalent documents. A notarised affidavit from the NRI sponsor confirming financial support is mandatory.
NMC plans to develop strategies to adopt a more dynamic policy approach
POSTED BY : EDUCATION TIMES
DATE : 30/3/2026
