MBBS in Delhi NCR 2026: Record High Cut-offs Expected as Seat Matrix Expands New Delhi, January 15, 2026 — The race for a coveted MBBS se...
MBBS in Delhi NCR 2026: Record High Cut-offs Expected as Seat Matrix Expands
New Delhi, January 15, 2026 — The race for a coveted MBBS seat in the National Capital Region (NCR) is set to intensify this year. As the National Testing Agency (NTA) prepares to release the official notification for NEET UG 2026 in early February, data from the National Medical Commission (NMC) indicates a strategic expansion of seats, even as competition for Delhi's top-tier government colleges remains the fiercest in the country.
High Stakes for "The Big 4"
Delhi NCR remains the undisputed hub of medical education in India, home to the nation's top-ranked institutes. For the 2026 academic session, experts predict that the closing ranks for the "Big 4" government colleges will tighten further due to the high density of top scorers in the region.
AIIMS New Delhi: Remains the #1 choice nationally. In 2025, the cutoff for the General category closed at an All India Rank (AIR) of 47.
Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC): The top choice for Delhi domicile students, with cutoffs consistently staying under AIR 100-150.
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) & Safdarjung Hospital: Continues to rise in preference, often closing before AIR 150.
University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS): Remains a stronghold for students targeting ranks within the top 500.
New Seats and Emerging Hubs in NCR
To accommodate the surging number of aspirants, the NMC has approved a revised seat matrix for 2026-27. While central Delhi colleges have reached saturation, the peripheral NCR regions are seeing significant growth:
Greater Noida & Faridabad: Private universities like Sharda University (Greater Noida) and Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Faridabad) are expanding their intake, offering state-of-the-art infrastructure albeit at a higher fee point.
Haryana NCR: ESIC Medical College, Faridabad has emerged as a high-value option for students, offering government-subsidized fees (approx. ₹1 Lakh/year) with excellent clinical exposure.
The Cost Divide: ₹6,000 vs. ₹1 Crore
The disparity in cost remains the single biggest factor for families in Delhi NCR.
Government: Studying at AIIMS Delhi costs less than ₹6,000 for the entire course, while MAMC and LHMC charge roughly ₹10,000–₹15,000 annually.
Private: In contrast, private medical colleges in Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Greater Noida command fees ranging from ₹15 Lakh to ₹25 Lakh per annum, pushing the total course cost above ₹1 Crore for management quota seats.
Expert Insight: "Students must be strategic during counseling. If you miss a government seat in Delhi by a small margin, consider top government colleges in the Haryana or UP state quota (like Meerut or Rohtak) before jumping to expensive private options," advises Anil Kumar, a senior NEET counselor based in South Delhi.
Admissions Watch: What's New for 2026?
Unified Counseling: There are active discussions about streamlining the counseling process to reduce seat blocking, which may affect how Delhi State Quota (85%) interacts with the All India Quota (15%).
Strict Age Limit: The minimum age remains 17 years (as of Dec 31, 2026), but scrutiny on documentation has been tightened to prevent identity fraud.
Key Dates for Aspirants
NEET UG 2026 Notification: Expected Feb 2026 (1st Week)
Exam Date: May 3, 2026 (Tentative)
Counseling Begins: July 2026
As the countdown begins, students are advised to focus on high-yield topics in Physics and Chemistry, as Biology remains the baseline where near-perfect scores are now the norm for Delhi admissions.
