Chennai: The National Medical Commission has approved a 50-seat increase in MBBS intake at two govt medical colleges in Tamil Nadu, raising capacity at each from 100 to 150 seats starting with the 2026-27 academic year. The expansion at Government Medical College and Hospital, Namakkal, and Government Medical College and Hospital, Tiruppur, will push the total seat count across the state’s 36 govt medical colleges to 5,150.On July 10, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board issued letters of permission for both colleges under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. Both institutions are affiliated with The Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University. State health officials said they are anticipating similar approval for 50 additional seats at the Government Medical College and Hospital, Tiruvallur.This increase marks the first expansion of govt MBBS seats in five years. In 2021, near the end of the previous AIADMK govt’s term, the state opened 11 new medical colleges and, later that year, added 50 seats to the government medical college in Coimbatore. Since then, neither the number of colleges nor their seat count has grown. “An increase in government medical seats means better clinical material, higher teaching standards and lower fees for meritorious students,” an official said.The additional seats are also expected to benefit more govt school students, who qualify for 7.5% reservation. Admissions to govt medical colleges are handled by the state selection committee based on merit in the NEET-UG 2026 exam, in accordance with the 69% reservation rule.In addition to the 36 govt medical colleges, Tamil Nadu has one ESIC medical college with 150 seats and AIIMS Madurai with 50 seats. While admissions to the ESIC medical college are made through the state selection committee, allotments for AIIMS are handled by the Centre’s medical counselling committee.NMC has said the colleges must maintain prescribed infrastructure, faculty and clinical standards, comply with fire, pollution and biomedical waste norms, or face withdrawal of the letter of permission if they have made false declarations or submitted forged documents. Both institutions must also contribute 15% of MBBS seats and 50% of postgraduate broad-speciality seats to the All-India Quota and maintain an updated official website disclosing intake, faculty details and hospital statistics.Meanwhile, ESIC will add 200 more seats to the state pool, and admission for 50 seats in AIIMS will be done by the central committee.
