NEET PG 2026 Round 1: 28,723 seats allotted, General Medicine takes 2,102
By TUF News Desk · Published 29 October 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
The first round of NEET PG 2026 counselling has put numbers to a pattern every medical graduate already senses. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) allotted 28,723 postgraduate medical seats in Round 1, spread across 96 specialty and course entries covering MD, MS, diploma and NBEMS DNB programmes.
MD General Medicine took the largest share by a clear margin, with 2,102 seats. MD Anaesthesiology followed with 2,009, and MS General Surgery with 1,904. Together, those three branches alone account for more than 6,000 of the Round 1 seats.
Where the rest of the seats went
The next tier shows how broad the demand is. MS Obstetrics and Gynaecology recorded 1,748 allotments, MD Paediatrics 1,514, and MS Orthopaedics 1,164. MD Pathology took 1,090 seats, while the NBEMS-run DNB programmes added their own weight: 1,074 seats in General Medicine and 1,018 in Anaesthesiology.
MD Radio-Diagnosis, often talked about as one of the most contested branches, recorded 1,002 seats in the full Round 1 list. Further down, MS Ophthalmology took 872 seats, MS Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) 721, and MD Community Medicine 628. MD Psychiatry, with 601 seats, and MD Microbiology, with 590, also feature in the top 30 courses.
The spread matters for candidates still in the process. Round 1 did not empty any single branch, and the long tail of specialties means Round 2 will still hold options across clinical, surgical and diagnostic fields.
What the top of the merit list chose
An analysis of the first 100 entries in the Round 1 list tells a tighter story. General Medicine accounted for 51 of those 100 allotments. Radiology came second, and Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy was third with six entries. General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Nuclear Medicine took the remaining places in small numbers.
That concentration at the top is not the same as the full-list picture. Anaesthesiology, which ranks second overall with 2,009 seats, does not dominate the first 100 entries the way Medicine does. The top rankers leaned toward broad clinical branches, while the bulk of Anaesthesiology seats went to candidates further down the merit list. For aspirants reading the list, the lesson is plain: the first 100 entries show what the highest rankers wanted, not where most seats sit.
The exam behind the list
NEET PG 2026 was held on August 30, 2026, by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences for admission to postgraduate medical courses for the 2026-27 session. A total of 2,73,096 candidates were scheduled to take the examination, and 2,65,980 appeared. MCC released the Round 1 allotment list on October 24, and allotted candidates were asked to report to their colleges between October 26 and November 2.
Candidates who took a seat in Round 1 had to choose between freezing it and floating it for an upgrade in the next round. Those who did not get a seat, or who floated, will be watching the Round 2 seat matrix closely. Our admission documents checklist covers the papers colleges ask for at reporting, and our guide to choosing a university in India sets out what to weigh when comparing institutes before locking a preference.
The full counselling schedule, allotment lists and reporting instructions are published on the official MCC website. Candidates should check it directly rather than relying on forwarded lists, since seat matrices and dates change between rounds.
Frequently asked questions
How many seats were allotted in NEET PG 2026 Round 1?
28,723 postgraduate medical seats across 96 specialty and course entries, covering MD, MS, diploma and NBEMS DNB programmes.
Which specialty got the most seats in NEET PG 2026 Round 1?
MD General Medicine, with 2,102 seats, followed by MD Anaesthesiology with 2,009 and MS General Surgery with 1,904.
What did the top 100 allotments in NEET PG 2026 Round 1 show?
General Medicine accounted for 51 of the first 100 entries, with Radiology second and Dermatology third at six entries.
Where can candidates check the NEET PG 2026 counselling schedule?
On the official MCC website, which publishes the allotment lists, reporting instructions and round-wise schedules.
Frequently asked questions
How many seats were allotted in NEET PG 2026 Round 1?
28,723 postgraduate medical seats across 96 specialty and course entries, covering MD, MS, diploma and NBEMS DNB programmes.
Which specialty got the most seats in NEET PG 2026 Round 1?
MD General Medicine, with 2,102 seats, followed by MD Anaesthesiology with 2,009 and MS General Surgery with 1,904.
What did the top 100 allotments in NEET PG 2026 Round 1 show?
General Medicine accounted for 51 of the first 100 entries, with Radiology second and Dermatology third at six entries.
Where can candidates check the NEET PG 2026 counselling schedule?
On the official MCC website at mcc.nic.in, which publishes the allotment lists, reporting instructions and round-wise schedules.
Sources: Medical Dialogues, The Times of India, Deccan Herald