The 777 additional seats have been distributed across 125 medical colleges, providing a much-needed boost to high-demand clinical branches. The capacity to train more specialists in fields like General Medicine and Radio Diagnosis is expected to directly impact the quality of healthcare delivery across diverse regions.
- Leading States: Karnataka has received the highest quantum of new seats at 1,328 (total additions for the year), followed by Uttar Pradesh with 1,034 and Tamil Nadu with 905.
- Clinical Branch Expansion: Significant allotment has been made in MD Anaesthesiology (718 seats), MD General Medicine (668 seats), and MD Paediatrics (645 seats).
- Institutional Split: The updated NMC Public Notice confirms that 426 of the appeal-based seats are in government medical colleges, while 902 seats are located within private institutions.
- Real-time Integration: To prevent academic delays, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has included these seats in the system even before the physical issuance of individual Letters of Permission (LoPs).
Impact on the Stray Vacancy Round and Merit Trends
The reflection of these 777 seats in the updated matrix during the final week of February has fundamentally altered the competitive landscape for borderline candidates. This late-stage allotment provides a second chance for aspirants who were previously unable to secure their preferred branches in earlier rounds.
| Specialty Branch | Newly Integrated Seats | Total Current Matrix | Allotment Status |
| MD General Medicine | 144 | 5,892 | Available |
| MD Radio Diagnosis | 30 | 2,110 | Available |
| MD Paediatrics | 17 | 3,450 | Available |
| MS General Surgery | 17 | 4,200 | Available |
| MD Anaesthesiology | 24 | 3,980 | Available |
- Cutoff Relaxation: With the recent reduction in qualifying percentiles, the inclusion of these 777 seats ensures that a larger pool of qualified doctors can successfully transition into residency.
- Choice Filling Advantage: Candidates participating in the ongoing Stray Vacancy Round can now opt for these new slots, which were previously marked as "unavailable" in the tentative matrix.
- Regional Benefits: The sudden influx of seats in states like Gujarat and Maharashtra is expected to lower the state-specific closing ranks for para-clinical branches.
- Transparency Measures: The NMC has mandated that colleges verify their seat counts within 15 days of the February 4 Notice to ensure the matrix remains error-free.
Conclusion
The reflection of 777 additional seats in the NEET PG matrix on February 18, 2026, represents a decisive win for medical education reform in India. By clearing these seats through a rigorous appeal process, the NMC has balanced regulatory standards with the urgent need for increased specialist capacity. This expansion not only optimizes the current admission cycle but also sets a precedent for how appeals can be handled to prevent the loss of valuable training spots. As the final seat allotment results approach later this week, the medical community looks forward to a smoother transition for the 2025-26 residency batch. The addition of these seats is a critical step in the government's long-term mission to add 75,000 new medical seats over a five-year period, ensuring that the country’s healthcare infrastructure is staffed by a robust and diverse cohort of specialists.
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