84.4% Back Fee Cuts in Private Medical Colleges, with 61.8% Supporting 50% Reduction: Shiksha.com Poll
India’s medical education landscape has expanded significantly over the past decade, with the total number of MBBS seats nearly doubling from 51,348 in 2014 to 1,18,190 in 2025, a remarkable 130% increase.
A recent poll conducted by Shiksha.com has revealed strong public support for reducing MBBS course fees in private medical colleges, following a parliamentary panel’s call for a 50% fee reduction and stricter action against capitation fees. The poll, inspired by the panel’s recommendations reported earlier this month, garnered 2,105 votes, with 61.8% (1,301 votes) favoring a 50% fee cut, 22.6% (476 votes) advocating for an even steeper reduction, and only 15.6% (328 votes) opposing the proposal.
This overwhelming backing reflects growing concerns over the high cost of medical education in India, particularly in private institutions, where fees can range from ₹15 lakh to ₹40 lakh per year.
Poll Results at a Glance
Should Private Medical College Reduce MBBS Course fee by 50 percent?
| Response Option |
Votes |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Yes, 50% fee reduction |
1,301 |
61.8% |
| Yes, more than 50% fee reduction |
476 |
22.6% |
| No, no fee reduction |
328 |
15.6% |
| Total |
2,105 |
100% |
The parliamentary panel’s report, highlighted in a Shiksha.com news, emphasized the need to make medical education more affordable and accessible. It urged the government to slash fees in private medical colleges by half and crack down on capitation fees—illegal charges often demanded for admission. The poll results suggest that students, parents, and other stakeholders strongly align with these recommendations, with nearly a quarter of respondents pushing for reductions beyond 50%, indicating the urgency of addressing financial barriers in medical education.
MBBS Seats in India: A Decade of Growth
India’s medical education landscape has expanded significantly over the past decade, with the total number of MBBS seats nearly doubling from 51,348 in 2014 to 1,18,190 in 2025, a remarkable 130% increase. According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), as of January 2025, there are 779 medical colleges in India, comprising 431 government or semi-government institutions (including AIIMS and central universities), 55 deemed universities, and 293 private colleges. Of the 1,17,975 MBBS seats available, approximately 59,860 are in government institutions, while 58,115 are in private or deemed colleges.
MBBS Seats in India: A Decade of Growth
| Year |
Total MBBS Seats |
% Increase Since 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 |
51,348 |
– |
| 2025 (Projected) |
1,18,190 |
~130% |
Medical Colleges in India (as of Jan 2025)
| Type of Institution |
Number of Colleges |
|---|---|
| Government / Semi-government (incl. AIIMS, Central Universities) |
431 |
| Deemed Universities |
55 |
| Private Colleges |
293 |
| Total |
779 |
This growth, driven by government policies and the establishment of new medical colleges, has created more opportunities for aspiring doctors. For instance, 53 new medical colleges were approved for the 2023-24 session, including 31 government and 22 private institutions, and an additional 10,000 seats are expected to be added in 2025.
NEET 2025 cutoff percentile for general category students is 50th percentile. Based on this, the NEET cutoff score 2025 for the General category is 686-144. The NEET 2025 cutoff for the General category candidates of the Physically Handicapped (PH) or the Persons with Benchmark Disability (PWBD) category candidates is 45 percentile. The subsequent NEET cutoff marks for this category is 143-127. Although the NEET cutoff percentile for the General category has remained the same, the cutoff score reduced from that of last year. This is due to factors such as tougher difficulty level, and lower number of test-takers.
NTA released the NEET 2025 cutoff along with the result on June 14, 2025. Based on the NEET 2025 high difficulty level, the NEET cutoff 2025 is much lower than last year. Take a look at the NEET 2025 cutoff for reference.
Category |
NEET 2025 Cutoff percentile |
NEET 2025 Cutoff score |
|---|---|---|
UR/EWS |
50th |
686-144 |
OBC, SC, ST |
40th |
143-113 |
UR/EWS-PwD |
45th |
143-127 |
OBC/SC/St-PwD |
40th |
126-113 |
Southern states like Tamil Nadu (11,225 seats), Karnataka (11,020 seats), and Andhra Pradesh lead in seat availability, while Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra also boast significant numbers. Despite this expansion, regional disparities persist, and the high fees in private colleges remain a barrier for many.
MBBS Seat Distribution (as of Jan 2025)
| Institution Type |
Number of Seats |
|---|---|
| Government Institutions |
59,860 |
| Private / Deemed Colleges |
58,115 |
| Total |
1,17,975 |
New Approvals and Future Projections
| Category |
Number |
|---|---|
| New Medical Colleges Approved (2023–24) |
53 (31 Govt, 22 Private) |
| Additional Seats Expected in 2025 |
10,000 |
MBBS Admission Process: A Competitive Journey
Admission to MBBS programs in India is governed by the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), a highly competitive exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). In 2025, over 24 lakh candidates are expected to appear for NEET-UG, vying for approximately 1,18,190 MBBS seats. Candidates must qualify with a minimum percentile (50% for general category, 40% for SC/ST/OBC, and 45% for PwD) to be eligible for counseling. The counseling process, managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and state authorities for 85% state quota seats, involves multiple rounds of seat allocation based on NEET scores, preferences, and reservation criteria. Government colleges offer subsidized fees (₹1,628 to ₹5 lakh per year), making them highly sought after, while private college fees under management or NRI quotas can be prohibitively expensive.
States with Highest MBBS Seats (2025)
| State |
Number of MBBS Seats |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu |
11,225 |
| Karnataka |
11,020 |
| Maharashtra |
10,845 |
| Uttar Pradesh |
11,200 |
| Andhra Pradesh |
6,785 |
The Road Ahead
The Shiksha.com poll underscores a public demand for affordable medical education, echoing the parliamentary panel’s call for reform. With MBBS seats projected to reach 1,80,000 by 2029, India is poised to strengthen its healthcare workforce and emerge as a hub for medical tourism. However, ensuring equitable access to these opportunities requires addressing the fee disparity between government and private institutions.
As one poll respondent commented on X, “Private medical colleges charge exorbitant fees. They should align with government college rates, or their licenses should not be renewed.” The government’s next steps in implementing the panel’s recommendations will be crucial in shaping the future of medical education in India.
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The official NEET 2025 cutoff is released by NTA along with the NEET 2025 result, which has been released on June 14, 2025. The NEET 2025 cutoff or the qualifying score for each candidate category is mentioned on the NEET 2025 scorecard. The NEET cutoff refers to the minimum score a candidate has to obtain to qualify for the NEET counselling process. The NEET cutoff 2025 decreased from that of last year as the difficulty level of the exam was higher and thenumber of test takers was lower.