Maharashtra’s MBBS, BDS Seats Remain Vacant Amid CAP Rounds
Subscribe Now! Get features like instant push notifications and story alerts, exclusive web series, and access to our premium articles. reports indicate that as many as 1,036 MBBS and BDS seats remain vacant in Maharashtra after three rounds of the centralised admission process (CAP) for the 2026-27 academic year. Private medical and dental colleges account for the bulk of the unfilled seats, according to data released by the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell.
Government Institutions Outshine Private Colleges in Admissions
Of the 11,431 MBBS and BDS seats available across the state, 10,395 have been filled, resulting in an overall admission rate of 90.93%. The CET Cell announced three online stray vacancy rounds to fill the remaining vacancies. The data show a marked difference in admissions between government and private institutions. Government medical colleges have filled 99.60% of their MBBS seats, with only 20 of the 5,065 seats remaining vacant. In contrast, private medical colleges have 506 vacancies among 3,749 MBBS seats, with admissions reaching 86.50%.
Dental Colleges Struggle to Fill Seats
The vacancy situation is more pronounced in dental colleges, where 510 of the 2,617 BDS seats remain unfilled. With 2,107 admissions completed, the overall occupancy rate for BDS courses stands at 80.51%, nearly 13 percentage points lower than that for MBBS. Government dental colleges have filled 291 of their 317 BDS seats, leaving 26 vacant and recording an admission rate of 91.79%. Private dental colleges, however, have 484 vacancies after filling 1,816 of their 2,300 seats. Their admission rate stands at 78.95%.
Private Colleges Account for Most Vacancies
The figures indicate that private institutions account for most of the vacancies across both courses. Of the 1,036 unfilled MBBS and BDS seats, 990 are in private colleges, while government institutions have 46 vacancies. The CET Cell has issued a revised schedule to fill the remaining seats through online stray vacancy rounds. The first-round results will be declared on October 19.
Guidelines for Stray Vacancy Rounds
Candidates allotted seats in the first stray vacancy round must report in person to their respective colleges with original documents and the prescribed fee demand draft between October 20 and 21, by 5.30 pm, to confirm their admissions. The schedules for the second and third stray vacancy rounds, along with further instructions, will be published on the official CET Cell website. The CET Cell has assured that the vacant seats will be filled from both government and private colleges, and candidates must fill fresh preferences as their previous preferences will not be carried forward.
Future Outlook for Maharashtra’s Medical and Dental Education
The situation highlights the need for the state to re-evaluate its medical and dental education policies to ensure that students have access to quality education. The high vacancy rates in private colleges raise concerns about the quality of education being provided. The state government must work towards improving the infrastructure and faculty in private colleges to attract more students. Additionally, the government must also consider increasing the number of seats in government colleges to reduce the burden on private institutions. By doing so, the state can ensure that students have access to quality education and that the vacant seats are filled in the future.