Andhra seeks 15 more days to fill 112 vacant NRI-quota MBBS seats
By Kabir SethiEducation Correspondent, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: voltamax / Pixabay
Andhra Pradesh has 112 vacant NRI-quota MBBS seats after the stray round; NTR health university asked the NMC on October 26, 2026 for 15 more days.
What Happened
Andhra Pradesh still has 112 NRI-quota MBBS seats unfilled after the stray vacancy round of counselling ended on October 23, 2026, and the state's health university has asked the National Medical Commission (NMC) for 15 more days to complete admissions, according to reports on October 26. Dr NTR University of Health Sciences in Vijayawada has also asked for the NEET-UG 2026 qualifying percentile to be lowered so that more candidates become eligible for the seats. The NMC has agreed to examine the request and is expected to decide after the current deadline for MBBS and BDS admissions, October 26, passes.
Key Facts
- 112 NRI-quota MBBS seats remain vacant in Andhra Pradesh after the stray round closed on October 23.
- They include 9 seats at Paderu Government Medical College, 8 at Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, and 95 across private medical colleges, according to reports.
- Dr NTR University of Health Sciences has requested a 15-day extension of the admission deadline from the NMC.
- The university has also sought a reduction in the NEET-UG 2026 qualifying percentile for these seats.
- The current national deadline to complete MBBS and BDS admissions for the academic year is October 26, 2026.
- The NMC has said it will consider the request; any relaxation is subject to its decision and the admission regulations.
- No extension or percentile cut had been announced at the time of writing.
Why It Matters
The NRI quota is a share of seats in some medical colleges, mainly private ones, reserved for children or wards of Non-Resident Indians. These seats are filled separately from the regular quotas, and in this case they are the ones left over at the end of counselling. When seats stay empty after the final counselling round, they are wasted for the whole academic year, a loss for colleges and for a country that needs more doctors.
The request has two parts, and both matter to students. An extension would give the university time to run another round and admit candidates who are already eligible. A lower qualifying percentile would widen the pool of eligible students, because NEET-UG sets a minimum percentile that candidates must reach to be considered for any MBBS seat. Lowering that bar for unfilled seats tends to draw debate: supporters say empty seats help no one, while critics worry about diluting the merit standard for future doctors.
For students and families in Andhra Pradesh who narrowly missed out, the coming days are important. If the NMC agrees, the university is likely to announce a fresh window for NRI-quota applications or a mop-up round, with tight deadlines. Candidates should watch the NTR University's admission notifications closely and keep their NEET-UG scorecard and the documents the NRI quota requires ready.
| Seat location | Vacant NRI-quota seats |
|---|---|
| Paderu Government Medical College | 9 |
| Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women | 8 |
| Private medical colleges | 95 |
| Total | 112 |
Impact
Short-term: If the NMC grants the extension, Andhra Pradesh will reopen admissions for the vacant seats within about two weeks. If it refuses, the seats are likely to stay empty this year.
Long-term: Vacancies in the NRI quota raise wider questions about how such seats are filled, and whether unfilled seats should move to other categories.
Who is affected: NEET-UG 2026 candidates seeking MBBS seats in Andhra Pradesh, especially those with NRI sponsors; the private and government medical colleges with empty seats; and the state's health university.
Key Takeaway
Andhra Pradesh has 112 empty NRI-quota MBBS seats and has asked the NMC for 15 more days and a lower NEET cut-off to fill them; the decision is due after the October 26 deadline.
Questions and Answers
How many NRI-quota MBBS seats are vacant in Andhra Pradesh?
112 seats were left after the stray round ended on October 23, 2026: 9 at Paderu Government Medical College, 8 at Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women and 95 in private colleges.
Has the MBBS admission deadline been extended?
Not yet. Dr NTR University of Health Sciences has asked the NMC for 15 more days, and the NMC is expected to decide after the October 26 deadline.
Will the NEET-UG 2026 cut-off be lowered for these seats?
The university has requested a lower qualifying percentile, but the NMC has not decided. Any change would be announced officially.
Where should students check for updates?
On the admission notifications page of Dr NTR University of Health Sciences, which handles MBBS counselling in Andhra Pradesh.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Kabir Sethi, Education CorrespondentCovers Education and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Kabir Sethi
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Kabir Sethi is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
