Category: NEET Guides

Andhra Pradesh has 37 medical colleges offering ~5,200-5,350 MBBS seats through NEET-based counselling (2025 figures). Seats are filled through both Convener Quota (state counselling by NTRUHS) and Management Quota processes running in parallel.

Government vs private split

Type	Colleges	Approximate R1 allotments (2025)
Government	18	~2,350 (CQ)
Private	19	~1,400 (CQ) + ~1,847 (MQ)
Total	37	~3,750 CQ + ~1,847 MQ

CQ and MQ are separate quota streams on the same physical private college seats, so these allotment counts should not be added to arrive at a total seat number. The actual number of unique MBBS seats across all 37 colleges is ~5,200-5,350.

Government colleges include 14 regular institutions and some government colleges that operate under SVIMS or as autonomous institutions, including Sri Padmavathi Medical College and Sri Venkateswara Medical College. Some newer government colleges (Eluru, Machilipatnam, Nandyal, Paderu, Rajamahendravaram, Vizianagaram) also have self-financed “CA” (Competent Authority) seats that appear in the Management Quota process.

Cities with medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh

Medical colleges are distributed across the state, with concentrations in:

• Visakhapatnam: Andhra Medical College (government, 210 seats; one of AP’s oldest), NRI Institute of Medical Sciences, Gayatri Vidya Parishad Institute
• Tirupati: Sri Venkateswara Medical College (government, 200 seats), Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women (government, women-only, 124 seats), Sri Balaji Medical College
• Guntur: Guntur Medical College (government, 211 seats), Katuri Medical College
• Kurnool: Kurnool Medical College (government, 208 seats), Viswabharathi Medical College
• Vijayawada: Siddhartha Medical College (government, 148 seats), Nimra Institute of Medical Sciences
• Kakinada/Rajamahendravaram: Rangaraya Medical College (government, 209 seats), GSL Medical College
• Nellore: ACSR Government Medical College (144 seats), Narayana Medical College
• Srikakulam: Government Medical College (160 seats), Great Eastern Medical School

One women-only institution exists: Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women (PADT), Tirupati, under SVIMS. Only female candidates are admitted here.

Convener Quota vs Management Quota

Convener Quota (Category A): 50% of private college seats are filled through NTRUHS counselling at regulated fees. State reservation rules (BC/SC/ST/EWS) apply. Local area zones (AU/SVU) determine eligibility.

Management Quota: 35% of private college seats, split into:

• B1 (all-India): Open to candidates from any state. 237 allotments in MQ R1 2025.
• B2 (AP-domicile): Restricted to AP candidates. 837 allotments in MQ R1 2025.

NRI Quota (Category C): 15% of private college seats. 409 allotments in MQ R1 2025.

CA (Competent Authority): Self-financed seats in newer government colleges. 364 allotments in MQ R1 2025.

Fee structure summary

College type	Quota	Annual fee	5-year total
Government	State (CQ)	₹10,000-12,000	~₹50,000-60,000
Private	Convener Quota (Cat A)	~₹70,000	~₹3.5 lakh
Private	Management (Cat B)	₹12-13.2 lakh	~₹60-66 lakh
Private	NRI (Cat C)	₹18-25 lakh	~₹90 lakh-1.25 crore

Government college total costs including hostel and other charges come to ₹20,000-30,000 per year. The Convener Quota fee for private colleges (₹70,000/year) is government-regulated and subsidised compared to the management seats at the same institution.

Security deposits are separate from tuition: ₹30,000 for government seats, ₹1 lakh for private CQ seats, ₹2 lakh for MQ seats, and ₹5 lakh for NRI seats. These are refundable upon course completion.

Special institutions

• Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences (FIMS), Kadapa: Muslim minority institution with separate minority quota seats
• Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, Tirupati: Women-only government college under SVIMS
• Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada: Has the sole Anglo-Indian reserved seat in AP

Two colleges are very new and had limited or zero allotments in early rounds of 2025: Anna Gowri Medical College (Parameshwaramangalam) and Gayatri Vidya Parishad Institute (Visakhapatnam). These may have fuller participation in future counselling cycles.

Andhra Pradesh applies approximately 60% reservation in medical admissions, split across Backward Classes (29%), Scheduled Castes (15%), Scheduled Tribes (6%), and EWS (10%). Below is the full category list used in AP NEET counselling. The state also implements a 33% horizontal reservation for women across all categories.

Category codes used in AP counselling

Code	Category	Reservation %
OC	Open Category (General/Unreserved)	~35% (after all reservations)
BCA / BC-A	Backward Class A	7%
BCB / BC-B	Backward Class B	10%
BCC / BC-C	Backward Class C	1%
BCD / BC-D	Backward Class D	7%
BCE / BC-E	Backward Class E	4%
SC1	Scheduled Caste Group 1 (most backward)	1%
SC2	Scheduled Caste Group 2 (Madiga group)	6.5%
SC3	Scheduled Caste Group 3 (Mala group)	7.5%
ST	Scheduled Tribe	6%
EWS	Economically Weaker Section	10%

Two additional category codes appear for specific institutions:

• ANGLO: Anglo-Indian (1 reserved seat at Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada)
• MINORITY: Muslim Minority quota at Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Kadapa

SC sub-categorisation (introduced 2025)

AP is among the first states to implement Scheduled Caste sub-classification in medical admissions. Prior to 2025, SC was a single undivided category with 15% reservation. From 2025 onwards, SC is split into three groups under the “Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Sub-classification) Rules, 2025” (GO No. 7, dated 18.04.2025):

• SC1 (1%): Most backward SC communities
• SC2 (6.5%): Madiga group and related communities
• SC3 (7.5%): Mala group and related communities

The total SC reservation remains 15%, but seats are now distributed among these three sub-groups. In 2025 MQ files, Roman numeral variants (SCI, SCII, SCIII) are used.

How to determine your category

Your category is determined by the community certificate issued by the Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) of your area.

• OC: If your community does not appear in any reserved category list
• BCA through BCE: Per the AP Backward Classes list (five sub-groups A through E, each with distinct communities)
• SC1/SC2/SC3: Per the AP Scheduled Castes list with sub-classification. Your specific SC group is indicated on the community certificate
• ST: Per the Scheduled Tribes list for Andhra Pradesh
• EWS: Requires an EWS certificate from the Tahsildar certifying family income below ₹8 lakh per annum (per central EWS criteria; verify against latest AP government order) and that you do not belong to any reserved category

For Management Quota, non-AP candidates from other states may have “OBC” listed as their category (using their central OBC certificate). This applies only to B1 (all-India) seats.

Seat vacancy conversion

When reserved category seats go unfilled, they convert back to the general (OC) pool. Specifically:

• Unfilled BC/SC/ST/EWS seats revert to OC after all rounds of counselling are exhausted
• Within SC sub-categories, unfilled SC1 seats do not automatically transfer to SC2 or SC3; they revert to the general SC pool first, then to OC if still unfilled

This conversion happens after each round’s allotment.

Horizontal reservations (applied across all categories)

These quotas cut across vertical categories and apply within each:

Quota	Reservation	Notes
Women	33%	Applied across all categories
PH (Persons with Disabilities)	5%	Minimum 40% disability
CAP (Children of Armed Forces Personnel)	1%
NCC (National Cadet Corps)	1%
PMC (Police Martyrs’ Children)	0.25%

Gender codes in allotment data: “G” means the seat is open to all genders; “F” means the seat is restricted to female candidates only.

MRC (Meritorious Reserved Candidate) tag

AP uses a unique tracking label called MRC. When a reserved category candidate (BC/SC/ST) secures an open category seat purely on merit (their AIR is good enough to qualify without reservation), their allotment is tagged “MRC.” This does not change their category; it indicates they filled an OC seat through merit rather than reservation.

How AP categories differ from AIQ categories

AP state counselling	AIQ equivalent
OC	UR (Unreserved)
BCA through BCE	OBC (AIQ uses a single OBC category; AP splits into 5 sub-groups)
SC1/SC2/SC3	SC (AIQ uses undivided SC)
ST	ST
EWS	EWS
ANGLO	No equivalent
MINORITY	No equivalent (institution-specific)

If you hold both an AP community certificate and an OBC/SC/ST certificate valid for central purposes, you can use each in its respective counselling. Your AP category certificate applies in state counselling; your central certificate applies in AIQ counselling through MCC.

AP does not have an MBC (Most Backward Class) equivalent like Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. All backward classes are grouped under BC-A through BC-E.

The Andhra Pradesh NEET counselling process is conducted by Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS), Vijayawada. The university manages admission to 37 medical colleges across the state, covering ~5,200-5,350 MBBS seats annually through both Convener Quota (CQ) and Management Quota (MQ) processes. For the 2026 counselling cycle, candidates can expect a similar process based on the 2025 schedule below.

Official website: drntr.uhsap.in

Admissions portal: apuhs-ugadmissions.aptonline.in

How ranks work in AP counselling

Andhra Pradesh uses your NEET All India Rank (AIR) directly for state counselling. There is no separate state merit rank. Your position in the counselling queue is determined by your AIR combined with your category, local area zone, and gender.

In 2025, the Convener Quota Round 1 allotments ranged from AIR 2,182 (top) to AIR 1,217,240 (bottom). Management Quota allotments extended from AIR 29,519 to AIR 1,307,957.

Who is eligible

You can participate in AP state counselling if you meet these conditions:

1. AP domicile: Studied 7 continuous academic years in AP educational institutions (Classes 4 through 10)
2. Local area requirement: Studied 4 consecutive years in the specific local area (AU or SVU zone), with the last year being your qualifying exam year
3. Alternative route: Parent must have 10+ years of government service in AP

Non-local AP candidates (those with AP domicile but without 4-year residency in a specific zone) are classified as APNL and eligible only for the 15% unreserved government seats or Management Quota.

Academic requirements:

• 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English
• PCB aggregate: General 50%, BC/SC/ST 40%
• Minimum NEET percentile: General 50th, SC/ST/BC 40th, PwD (General) 45th
• Minimum age: 17 years by December 31 of admission year

The local area system (AU and SVU zones)

AP divides the state into two local area zones, each linked to a university:

Zone	University	Districts
AU	Andhra University	Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam
SVU	Sri Venkateswara University	Anantapur, Kadapa (YSR), Kurnool, Chittoor, Nellore (SPSR)

Seat allocation by local area:

• 85% of government college seats go to local candidates from within that zone
• 15% of government college seats are open to all AP candidates regardless of zone (the APUR pool)
• Private college Management Quota seats are not restricted by local area

In 2024, the CQ Round 1 distribution was AU: 2,026 allotments and SVU: 1,395 allotments, with 86 APNL allotments from the unreserved pool.

Registration process

1. Register on the NTRUHS admissions portal (link published at drntr.uhsap.in each year)
2. Upload required documents: NEET scorecard, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, local area/domicile proof, community certificate, passport-size photographs
3. Pay the registration fee:

– General/OBC: ₹3,540

– SC/ST/PwD: ₹2,950

– NRI: ₹8,260

– Management Quota: ₹5,900

1. Verify and lock your application before the deadline
2. Late registration is available for 2 additional days with an extra fee

Registration fees are non-refundable.

Round-by-round timeline

AP runs Convener Quota and Management Quota as parallel processes, each with multiple rounds. Based on the 2025 schedule:

Phase 1 / Round 1 (July-September)

• July 22: Notification released
• July 23-29: Registration window (9 AM to 9 PM daily)
• July 30-31: Late registration with additional fee
• August 15: Provisional merit list published
• August 19-22: Choice filling
• September 5: Phase 1 allotment results

Phase 2 / Round 2 (September-October)

• Upgradation and fresh allotment for vacant seats
• Candidates who selected “Float” in Phase 1 participate automatically

Mop-Up Round (November)

• Open only to non-allotted candidates
• No fresh registration required
• Covers seats vacated or unfilled from Phases 1 and 2

Stray Vacancy Round (December)

• Final round for remaining unfilled seats
• 2025 stray vacancy allotment was on December 29

Freeze and Float options

After Phase 1 allotment, you choose one of two options:

• Freeze: Accept your current seat and exit the counselling process. You will not be considered for upgradation.
• Float: Accept your current seat but remain eligible for upgradation in the next round. If upgraded, your previous seat is surrendered automatically.

Seat matrix and quota structure

AP’s seat distribution for MBBS:

• Total MBBS seats: ~5,200-5,350 across 37 colleges
• 15% All India Quota (from government colleges only): Managed by MCC
• 85% State Quota (government colleges): Filled through NTRUHS counselling
• Private colleges — Convener Quota (Category A): 50% of private college seats, state reservation rules apply
• Private colleges — Management Quota (Category B): 35% of private college seats

– B1: Open to all-India candidates

– B2: AP-domicile candidates only

• NRI Quota (Category C): 15% of private college seats

CQ Round 1 2025 saw 3,750 allotments (2,350 in government colleges, 1,400 in private colleges). MQ Round 1 2025 had 1,847 allotments split as B1: 237, B2: 837, C: 409, CA: 364.

What happens after allotment

Once allotted a seat:

1. Download your provisional allotment order from the portal
2. Report to the allotted college within the specified window
3. Submit original documents for verification
4. Pay the security deposit:

– Government college: ₹30,000

– Private (Convener Quota): ₹1,00,000

– Management Quota: ₹2,00,000

– NRI Quota: ₹5,00,000

1. Pay first-year tuition fees

Discontinuation penalty: ₹3,54,000 (inclusive of GST) for MBBS if you leave after joining.

How the AP NEET counselling process differs from AIQ

	Andhra Pradesh state	MCC All India Quota
Rank used	NEET AIR (directly)	NEET AIR
Conducting body	NTRUHS, Vijayawada	Medical Counselling Committee
Reservation	~60% (BC 29% + SC 15% + ST 6% + EWS 10%)	49.5% (OBC 27% + SC 15% + ST 7.5%)
Eligibility	AP domicile + local area	Open to all India
Category system	OC/BCA-BCE/SC1-SC3/ST/EWS	UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS
Local area zones	AU/SVU (85:15 split)	None
Rounds	4 (Phase 1, Phase 2, Mop-Up, Stray)	3
Fees (govt colleges)	₹10,000-12,000/year	Varies by state
SC sub-categories	Yes (SC1/SC2/SC3 from 2025)	No

Telangana medical colleges for NEET number 65 in total, with approximately 8,400-9,500 MBBS seats depending on whether central institutions (AIIMS, ESIC) are included. KNRUHS, Warangal conducts the state counselling process for Competent Authority (CQ) and Management Quota (MQ) seats.

Government vs private split

Type	Colleges	Approximate seats	Notes
Government	36	~4,300-4,400 (state quota)	CQ seats only
Private	28	~4,100-5,100 (all quotas)	CQ + MQ seats
Private (MQ only)	1	Included above	Neelima Institute, Ghatkesar
Total	65	~8,400-9,500

Seat counts are approximate and vary by source and year. The KNRUHS seat matrix, published before each counselling cycle, is the authoritative reference.

Older listings from sites like edufever.com report 28 government colleges, but that figure is outdated. Telangana has opened new government medical colleges in nearly every district over the past several years, growing from roughly 8-10 older institutions to 36. Many of the newer colleges are in district headquarters with 100-seat intakes.

Key cities with Telangana medical colleges for NEET

Medical colleges are concentrated in Hyderabad and spread across district towns:

• Hyderabad: Osmania Medical College, ESI Medical College, Apollo, Ayaan, Deccan, Kamineni Academy, Medicity, Shadan, Dr VRK Women’s, Mamata Academy (Bachupally); roughly 10 colleges
• Warangal: Kakatiya Medical College (government), Father Colombo, Pratima Relief
• Karimnagar: Government Medical College, C Ananda Rao, Prathima
• Secunderabad: Gandhi Medical College (government)
• Khammam: Government Medical College, Mamata Medical College
• Rangareddy: Bhaskar Medical College, Nova Institute
• Mahabubnagar: Government Medical College, S.V.S. Medical College
• Medchal: CMR Institute of Medical Sciences

Beyond these, government medical colleges exist in Nizamabad, Vikarabad, Siddipet, Sangareddy, Adilabad, Nalgonda, Suryapet, Kamareddy, Mancherial, Nagarkurnool, Nirmal, Narayanpet, Narsampet, Mulugu, Jangaon, Jagityal, and several other district headquarters.

Government college expansion

Telangana went from around 8-10 established institutions (Osmania, Gandhi, Kakatiya, and a handful of others) to 36 government MBBS colleges. No other state has added government medical colleges at this rate in such a short period. Most new colleges opened at district-headquarters level, giving each district its own government medical college. This expansion means more seats at government-regulated fees, though the newer colleges are still building clinical infrastructure.

For students, the practical effect is lower cutoff ranks for government seats compared to states where government college seats are scarce. A candidate with a moderate NEET rank has a wider range of government college options in Telangana than in most other states.

Private college structure

28 of Telangana’s 29 private colleges participate in a dual-track system:

• CQ (Competent Authority Quota): 50% of private seats, filled through KNRUHS counselling at regulated fees
• MQ (Management Quota): 35% of private seats, filled through a separate MQ counselling process (85% of MQ seats reserved for Telangana locals, 15% open to all states)
• NRI Quota: 15% of private seats

One college (Neelima Institute of Medical Sciences, Ghatkesar) participates only in MQ counselling and has no CQ seats.

CQ and MQ require separate registrations and run as independent counselling tracks. If you want to be considered under both, register for each.

Fee structure summary (approximate, based on 2025 data from meducate.in and getmbbsadmission.com)

College type	Quota	Annual fee	5-year total
Government	State quota	Rs 10,000-15,000	Rs 50,000-75,000
Private	Category A (CQ)	Rs 60,000-1,25,000	Rs 3,00,000-6,25,000
Private	Category B (MQ)	Rs 11,55,000-14,00,000	Rs 57,75,000-70,00,000
Private	Category C (NRI)	Rs 23,00,000-28,00,000	Rs 1,15,00,000-1,40,00,000

Additional costs:

• Hostel: Rs 80,000-1,50,000/year
• Mess: Rs 3,000-4,000/month
• Counselling registration: Rs 3,500 (General/OBC/BC) or Rs 2,900 (SC/ST)
• University fee at allotment: Rs 12,000 (one-time)

Government college fees in Telangana are among the lowest in India. The gap between CQ and MQ fees is large: a private CQ seat costs roughly Rs 60,000-1,25,000/year, while the same college’s MQ seat costs Rs 11.55-14 lakh/year.

Deemed universities

Telangana does not have deemed medical universities that participate in KNRUHS state counselling. Any deemed universities in the Hyderabad region (if applicable) would admit through MCC’s AIQ counselling process separately.

If you are considering deemed university options alongside Telangana state colleges, you must participate in both state counselling and MCC AIQ counselling as separate processes.

Telangana applies approximately 60% reservation in state quota medical admissions. The full Telangana NEET category list includes OC, five BC sub-groups (BCA through BCE), SC (split into SC1-SC3 from 2025), ST, and EWS. This exceeds the Supreme Court’s 50% cap, but the state operates under special state legislation similar to other southern states.

Telangana NEET category list with reservation percentages

Code	Category	Reservation %
OC	Open Category (General)	~36-40% (unreserved)
BCA	Backward Class A	7%
BCB	Backward Class B	10%
BCC	Backward Class C	1%
BCD	Backward Class D	7%
BCE	Backward Class E	4%
Total BC		29%
SC	Scheduled Caste	15%
ST	Scheduled Tribe	6% or 10% (see note below)
EWS	Economically Weaker Section	10%

The five BC sub-categories (BCA through BCE) add up to 29% total reservation for Backward Classes. Each sub-category has its own seat pool; a BCA candidate cannot claim a BCB seat and vice versa.

ST reservation: conflicting sources. One source (neetsupport.com) reports ST at 6%, while another (mbbscouncil.com) reports 10%. At 6%, the total reservation (SC 15% + ST 6% + BC 29% + EWS 10%) is 60%. At 10%, the total climbs to 64%. Both figures appear in secondary sources, and neither has been confirmed against the official KNRUHS prospectus at the time of writing. Verify the exact percentage against the KNRUHS prospectus or Telangana reservation GO for your admission year.

SC sub-categorization (2025 onwards)

Starting from the 2025 counselling cycle, Telangana split the SC category into three sub-categories:

Code	Sub-category
SC1	Scheduled Caste (sub-category 1)
SC2	Scheduled Caste (sub-category 2)
SC3	Scheduled Caste (sub-category 3)

This sub-categorization follows a Telangana government rationalization GO. The overall 15% SC reservation remains, but seats are now distributed among SC1, SC2, and SC3. The individual percentage split across these three sub-categories has not been published in the sources reviewed; check the relevant GO for exact breakdowns.

In the 2023-2024 allotment data, SC appeared as a single category. The 2025 data uses SC1, SC2, and SC3 exclusively. If you are an SC candidate, your sub-category will be determined by your caste certificate and the applicable government order. This SC sub-categorization is specific to Telangana and uncommon among Indian states.

How to determine your category

Your category for Telangana NEET counselling is determined by your caste/community certificate issued by the competent government authority:

• OC: If your community is not listed in any reserved category
• BCA through BCE: Per the Telangana Backward Classes list. The specific BC sub-group (A, B, C, D, or E) depends on your community’s classification in the state BC list (GO Ms. No. 16 and subsequent amendments)
• SC / SC1-SC3: Per the Scheduled Castes list for Telangana. From 2025, your SC sub-category is determined by the SC rationalization GO
• ST: Per the Scheduled Tribes list for Telangana
• EWS: Family income below Rs 8 lakh per annum, with an EWS certificate issued by the Tehsildar (certificate must be for the admission year)

Your certificates must be in the candidate’s name and valid for Telangana state use (not central government format, which uses different classifications).

Seat vacancy cascade

When reserved seats in a category go unfilled after all rounds, the standard practice is to convert them upward through the reservation hierarchy. While the exact cascade order for Telangana has not been confirmed in the sources reviewed, the general pattern across Indian states is: ST vacancies convert to SC, then to BC, then to OC. EWS vacancies typically revert to the unreserved pool. Confirm the specific conversion chain for Telangana against the KNRUHS prospectus for your admission year.

Horizontal reservations (applied across all vertical categories)

These quotas cut across vertical categories and apply within each:

Quota	Reservation	Notes
Women	33.33%	Guaranteed in each category for statewide institutions
PwD (Persons with Disabilities)	5%	Across all categories; minimum 40% benchmark disability
CAP (Children of Armed Personnel)	1%
PMC (Police Martyrs Children)	0.25%
Singareni Collieries	5% (SIMS Ramagundam only)	For children of Singareni Collieries employees

Whether the Women’s reservation is supernumerary or carved from existing seats has not been confirmed in the sources reviewed. Check the KNRUHS prospectus for clarification.

The Singareni Collieries quota is specific to the Government Medical College, Ramagundam (SIMS) and does not apply to other colleges.

NCC grace marks

Telangana provides bonus marks for NCC participation. These are percentage additions applied during merit list preparation:

• Republic Day Camp participation: Up to 7% bonus
• TSC/VSC/NSC: 5% bonus
• NCC B Certificate holders: 3% bonus

The exact method of application (whether applied to the NEET score or calculated separately for state ranking) has not been specified in the sources reviewed. Contact KNRUHS for clarification if you hold an NCC certificate.

How Telangana categories differ from AIQ categories

Telangana state counselling	AIQ equivalent
OC	UR (Unreserved)
BCA + BCB + BCC + BCD + BCE	OBC (but Telangana splits BC into 5 sub-groups; AIQ has a single OBC category)
SC / SC1-SC3	SC (AIQ has no sub-categorization)
ST	ST (Telangana 6-10% vs AIQ 7.5%)
EWS	EWS (both 10%)
Women 33.33%	No AIQ equivalent
CAP / PMC	No AIQ equivalent

If you hold both a Telangana community certificate and a central OBC/SC/ST certificate, you can use each in its respective counselling (Telangana certificate for state quota; central certificate for AIQ).

The Telangana NEET counselling process 2026 is conducted by Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), Warangal. KNRUHS manages admission to 85% state quota seats in government colleges and Competent Authority (CQ) seats in private colleges. The state has 65 medical colleges (36 government, 29 private) with approximately 8,400-9,500 MBBS seats, depending on whether central institutions like AIIMS and ESIC are included. The KNRUHS seat matrix, published before each counselling cycle, is the authoritative source for the exact count.

Official website: knruhs.telangana.gov.in (counselling portal: tsmedadm.tsche.in)

How Telangana’s rank system works

KNRUHS prepares a Telangana State Merit List by sorting all registered candidates by their NEET score, but seat allocation in the allotment PDFs uses your NEET All India Rank (AIR). The state merit list is published with candidate name, gender, caste, NEET AIR, state rank, NEET score, percentile, and qualifying status.

For practical purposes, your NEET AIR is the number that determines where you stand in the counselling queue. This makes it straightforward to compare your position across Telangana state counselling and AIQ counselling. For example, if your NEET AIR is 30,000, that same rank applies in both state and AIQ allotment; there is no separate state rank conversion to worry about.

Tie-breaking criteria (when two candidates have identical NEET scores):

1. Higher marks in Biology
2. Higher marks in Chemistry
3. Fewer incorrect answers (fewer negative marks)
4. Older candidate gets preference

Who is eligible

Telangana is a domicile-restricted state for CQ seats. You can participate in state counselling if you meet one of these conditions:

• 4-year study rule: Studied in Telangana for at least 4 consecutive academic years immediately before the qualifying examination
• Parental residence: Parents are permanent residents of Telangana
• 7-year study rule: Studied in educational institutions within the state for a minimum of 7 consecutive academic years (considered local in the area where you studied the most years)
• 7-year residence rule: If not enrolled in any educational institution, resided continuously in a local area for 7+ years

Only Telangana domicile candidates are eligible for Competent Authority (CQ) seats. Non-local candidates can apply only for the 15% unreserved seats.

Other eligibility criteria:

• Minimum age: 17 years by 31 December of the admission year
• Passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology
• Indian nationals, PIOs, or OCIs (OCI card issued before 04-03-2021)

The local area system

Telangana retains a university-based local area system inherited from pre-2014 united Andhra Pradesh. The primary local area is the Osmania University (OU) region, covering Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Nalgonda, Medak, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Khammam, Mahaboobnagar, Warangal, and surrounding districts. After the 2014 bifurcation, the entire state is effectively OU-local for most purposes, though the legal framework still references the older multi-university structure. The 2024-2025 allotment PDFs dropped the local area (LOC) column entirely, suggesting the distinction has been de-emphasized.

Registration process

1. Register on the KNRUHS counselling portal (tsmedadm.tsche.in)
2. Upload required documents: NEET scorecard, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, domicile/study certificate, community certificate (if applicable), passport-size photographs
3. Pay the registration fee: Rs 3,500 for General/OBC/BC or Rs 2,900 for SC/ST (non-refundable)
4. Download your allotment letter after results; a one-time university fee of Rs 12,000 applies at this stage
5. Verify and lock your application before the deadline

Registration typically opens in mid-July and runs for about two weeks.

Steps in the Telangana NEET counselling process

Telangana conducts four rounds of counselling:

Round 1 (September)

• Registration and document upload: 16-30 July 2025
• Merit list publication: After registration closes
• Choice filling (web options): 16-18 September 2025
• Seat allotment results published
• Reporting to allotted college within the specified window

Round 2 (late September)

• Choice filling: 25-27 September 2025
• Seat allotment for vacancies from Round 1

Mop-up round (October-November)

• Covers seats vacated after Rounds 1 and 2
• Dates announced after Round 2 is complete

Stray vacancy round (November)

• Final round for remaining unfilled seats

Management Quota (MQ) registration runs separately: 31 July to 7 August 2025, with its own rounds (MQ R1, MQ R2, MQ R3). MQ has 3 rounds compared to CQ’s 4 rounds, and the two are independent counselling tracks with separate registrations and separate allotment PDFs.

Exact dates shift each year based on NEET results and AIQ counselling schedule. Monitor tsmedadm.tsche.in and knruhs.telangana.gov.in for official notifications.

Seat matrix and quota structure

Government colleges (36 colleges, approximately 4,300-4,400 state quota seats):

• 85% State Quota: Filled through KNRUHS counselling
• 15% All India Quota: Filled through MCC counselling

Private colleges (29 colleges, approximately 4,100-5,100 seats across all quotas):

• Category A (Convener/State Quota): 50% of seats, filled through KNRUHS counselling, Telangana domicile only, at regulated fees
• Category B (Management Quota): 35% of seats (85% of B-seats reserved for Telangana local candidates; 15% open to all states)
• Category C (NRI Quota): 15% of seats, open to NRI/OCI/PIO candidates

CQ and MQ are handled as entirely separate counselling processes. You must register for each track separately if you want to be considered for both.

Upgradation rules

• Round 1: You can freeze (accept your seat with no further rounds) or float (accept your seat but remain in the pool for an upgrade in Round 2). If upgraded, your previous seat is automatically released.
• Round 2: Allotment is final. No further upgradation.
• Mop-up round: No upgradation; non-joining triggers legal action.
• Stray vacancy round: Non-joining incurs a Rs 20 lakh penalty and 3-year debarment from future counselling.
• Mandatory Round 1 participation: Candidates who skip Round 1 registration become ineligible for all subsequent rounds. This is an anti-seat-blocking measure.

Key differences from AIQ counselling

	Telangana state	MCC All India Quota
Rank used	NEET AIR	NEET AIR
Reservation	~60-64% (SC 15% + ST 6-10% + BC 29% + EWS 10%; see Guide B for details on conflicting ST figures)	49.5% (OBC 27% + SC 15% + ST 7.5%)
Eligibility	Telangana domicile only (CQ seats)	Open to all India
Category system	OC/BCA-BCE/SC/SC1-SC3/ST/EWS	UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS
Rounds	4 (R1, R2, Mop-up, Stray)	3
Fees (govt colleges)	~Rs 10,000-15,000/year	Varies by state
Special quotas	Women 33.33%, CAP 1%, PMC 0.25%, PwD 5%	EWS, PwD
Conducting body	KNRUHS, Warangal	MCC, New Delhi
Separate MQ track	Yes (separate registration)	No (single process)

Tamil Nadu has 64 medical colleges offering approximately 12,050 MBBS seats through NEET-based counselling (2025 figures). The state has the second-highest number of medical seats in India after Karnataka.

Government vs private split

Type	Colleges	Approximate seats
Government	36	~5,200
Self-financing (private)	41	~6,600
Total	64	~12,050

Government colleges charge around ₹13,610 per year. Private colleges charge ₹4-4.25 lakh per year under the government quota, ₹15 lakh under management quota, and ₹27 lakh under NRI quota (2025-27 fee cycle, set by the state Fee Fixation Committee).

Key cities

Medical colleges are distributed across the state, with concentrations in:

• Chennai: Madras Medical College (1835, one of India’s oldest), Stanley Medical College, Kilpauk Medical College, Sri Ramachandra, SRM Medical College, and several private institutions
• Coimbatore: Coimbatore Medical College (government), PSG Institute of Medical Sciences, Sri Ramakrishna Institute
• Madurai: Madurai Medical College (government), Meenakshi Medical College
• Tiruchirappalli (Trichy): KAP Viswanatham Government Medical College
• Salem, Thanjavur, Tirunelveli: Each has a government medical college established in the 1960s-80s

Government college landscape

Tamil Nadu’s 36 government colleges range from the historic Madras Medical College (established 1835) to newer institutions set up under the state’s medical education expansion since 2018. The state added over 10 new government medical colleges between 2018 and 2024, primarily in district headquarters that previously lacked medical education facilities.

Government college admission is through the 85% state quota (after 15% AIQ deduction). Competition is intense: closing ranks for general category in top government colleges typically fall within the first 1,000-2,000 TN state merit positions.

Private college landscape

The 41 self-financing colleges include well-established institutions (Sri Ramachandra, SRM, PSG, Saveetha) alongside newer colleges. Private colleges participate in three seat-filling streams:

1. Government quota seats (regulated fee of ~₹4.25 lakh/year): Filled through TN state counselling alongside government colleges
2. Management quota seats (₹15 lakh/year): Also filled through TN counselling, but at higher fees
3. NRI quota seats (₹27 lakh/year): For NRI-sponsored candidates

All three streams are managed through the single TN counselling process. You choose colleges and quotas together during choice filling.

Fee structure summary

College type	Quota	Annual fee (2025-27)	5-year total
Government	State	~₹13,610	~₹68,000
Private	Government quota	~₹4,25,000	~₹21.25 lakh
Private	Management	₹15,00,000	~₹75 lakh
Private	NRI	₹27,00,000	~₹1.35 crore

Fees are fixed by the state Fee Fixation Committee for two-year cycles. The next revision is expected for the 2027-29 batch.

Deemed universities

Tamil Nadu also has several deemed universities (Sri Ramachandra, Saveetha, SRM, Meenakshi Academy, Chettinad) that admit through MCC’s AIQ counselling, not through the TN state process. These colleges do not appear in the TN state seat matrix and are governed by central fee regulations.

If you are considering deemed universities alongside state colleges, you must participate in both TN state counselling and MCC AIQ counselling separately.

Tamil Nadu applies 69% reservation in medical admissions, the highest among Indian states. This percentage is constitutionally protected through the Ninth Schedule and is exempt from the Supreme Court’s 50% cap that applies elsewhere.

Category codes used in TN counselling

Code	Category	Reservation
OC	Open Competition (General)	31% (unreserved)
BC	Backward Class	26.5%
BCM	Backward Class (Muslim)	3.5%
MBC&DNC	Most Backward Class & Denotified Communities	20%
SC	Scheduled Caste	15%
SCA	Scheduled Caste (Arunthathiyar)	3%
ST	Scheduled Tribe	1%

The SC total is 18%, of which 3% is reserved specifically for the Arunthathiyar community (under Tamil Nadu Act No. 4 of 2009). The remaining 15% goes to other Scheduled Caste communities.

BC and BCM together account for 30%. BCM (3.5%) is earmarked for Muslim candidates within the Backward Class classification.

How to determine your category

Your category for TN NEET counselling is determined by your community certificate issued by the Tahsildar. The certificate must be in the candidate’s name (not parent’s). Key points:

• OC: If your community is not listed in any reserved category list
• BC/BCM: Per the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes list (updated periodically by the BC Commission)
• MBC&DNC: Per the MBC&DNC list maintained by the state
• SC/SCA: Per the Scheduled Castes list for Tamil Nadu (SCA specifically for Arunthathiyar communities in Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Virudhunagar, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, and Thoothukudi districts)
• ST: Per the Scheduled Tribes list for Tamil Nadu

A fresh community certificate is not required each year; existing certificates remain valid as long as there are no changes to your community’s classification.

Seat vacancy conversion

When seats reserved for a category go unfilled, they convert in this chain:

ST → SC → MBC&DNC → BC → OC

Unfilled ST seats move to SC first, then unfilled SC seats move to MBC&DNC, continuing up the chain. This conversion happens after each round’s allotment is finalized.

Horizontal reservations (applied across all categories)

These quotas cut across vertical categories and apply within each:

7.5% Government School Quota

Introduced in 2020 for students who studied Class 6 through 12 entirely in Tamil Nadu government schools. A separate merit list is published for this quota. Candidates compete in both the general merit and government school quota simultaneously.

Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

5% of seats are reserved for candidates with benchmark disabilities (minimum 40% disability). Applies across all categories.

Ex-servicemen and Sports

Specific seats are allocated through offline special counselling conducted before the online general rounds.

How TN categories differ from AIQ categories

TN state counselling	AIQ equivalent
OC	UR (Unreserved)
BC + BCM	OBC (but TN splits Muslim BC separately)
MBC&DNC	No direct equivalent (part of OBC at central level)
SC	SC
SCA	No equivalent (TN-specific sub-quota)
ST	ST
—	EWS (TN does not apply EWS; uses its own 69% structure)

Tamil Nadu does not recognize the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) category in state counselling. The 10% EWS reservation applies only in AIQ seats.

If you hold both a state community certificate and an OBC/SC/ST certificate valid for central purposes, you can use each in its respective counselling (TN community certificate for state quota; central certificate for AIQ).

Tamil Nadu’s NEET MBBS counselling is conducted by the Selection Committee under the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DME). The committee manages admission to approximately 64 medical colleges across the state, covering around 12,050 MBBS seats annually.

Official website: tnmedicalselection.net

How Tamil Nadu’s state merit rank works

Tamil Nadu does not use your NEET All India Rank directly for state counselling. Instead, the Selection Committee generates a separate Tamil Nadu State Merit Rank by sorting all registered TN-eligible candidates by their NEET score.

Your state rank will be numerically lower than your AIR because the pool is limited to TN applicants. A candidate with AIR 5,000 might receive TN State Rank 150 if only 149 registered TN candidates scored higher.

The state merit rank determines your position in the counselling queue. Three separate rank lists are published: Government Quota, Management Quota, and 7.5% Government School Quota.

Tie-breaking criteria (applied when two candidates have identical NEET scores):

1. Higher marks in Biology (Botany + Zoology)
2. Higher marks in Chemistry
3. Fewer incorrect answers (fewer negative marks)
4. Older candidate gets preference

Who is eligible

You can participate in TN state counselling if you meet either condition:

1. Studied Class 6 through 12 in Tamil Nadu (no nativity certificate required)
2. Native of Tamil Nadu with a nativity certificate from the Tahsildar of your native taluk (required if you studied any class outside TN)

A permanent residence certificate is not accepted as a substitute for a nativity certificate. Candidates from other states living in Tamil Nadu do not qualify for the state quota.

Registration process

1. Register on the TN Medical Online portal (the registration link is published each year on tnmedicalselection.net)
2. Upload required documents: NEET scorecard, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, nativity/transfer certificate, community certificate, passport-size photographs
3. Pay the registration fee (₹500, non-refundable)
4. Verify and lock your application before the deadline

Registration typically opens within two weeks of NEET results (June-July) with a 7-10 day window.

Round-by-round timeline

Tamil Nadu conducts four rounds of counselling, spread across July to November:

Round 1 (July-August)

• Rank list published (typically late July)
• Choice filling opens for 7-10 days
• Allotment results published
• Reporting to allotted college within 5-7 days

Round 2 (September)

• Fresh registration window for new candidates and those who did not participate in Round 1
• Choice filling and allotment for vacant seats

Mop-up round (October)

• Open to all eligible candidates regardless of previous participation
• Covers seats vacated after Rounds 1 and 2

Stray vacancy round (November)

• Final round for remaining unfilled seats
• Shorter choice-filling window (2-3 days)

Exact dates shift each year based on NEET results, Supreme Court orders, and AIQ counselling schedule. Monitor tnmedicalselection.net for official notifications.

Seat matrix and quota structure

TN’s seat distribution for MBBS (approximate figures for 2025):

• Total MBBS seats: ~12,050 across 64 colleges
• 15% All India Quota (from government colleges only): ~780 seats managed by MCC
• 85% State Quota (government colleges): ~4,420 seats
• Private colleges (government quota): Seats allotted at regulated fees
• Private colleges (management quota): Filled through TN counselling at higher fees
• NRI quota: 15% of private college seats

Government college seats are split 85:15 between state and AIQ. Private self-financing colleges allocate seats across government quota, management quota, and NRI quota.

What happens after allotment

Once allotted a seat:

1. Download your provisional allotment order from the portal
2. Report to the allotted college within the specified window (typically 5-7 days)
3. Submit original documents for verification
4. Pay the first-year fee

If you wish to participate in the next round for a better seat, you can either:

• Retain current seat and participate in upgradation (your current seat is held while you try for a better one)
• Surrender your seat and re-enter the counselling pool

Key differences from AIQ counselling

	Tamil Nadu state	MCC All India Quota
Rank used	TN State Merit Rank	NEET AIR
Reservation	69% (9th Schedule protected)	49.5% (OBC 27% + SC 15% + ST 7.5%)
Eligibility	TN domicile/study only	Open to all India
Category system	OC/BC/BCM/MBC&DNC/SC/SCA/ST	UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS
Rounds	4	3
Fees (govt colleges)	~₹13,610/year	Varies by state
Special quotas	7.5% govt school, ex-servicemen, sports	EWS, PwD

Three counselling processes, three portals

NEET counselling in India is not a single unified process. Depending on your domicile and preferences, you may participate in up to three separate counselling processes, each run by a different authority:

• MCC (Medical Counselling Committee): Manages All India Quota (AIQ) seats, central university seats (like AIIMS and JIPMER, post-merger), and deemed university seats. Open to all candidates regardless of state.
• CET Cell (Maharashtra): Manages Maharashtra state quota seats (85% of seats in Maharashtra colleges). Open to candidates with Maharashtra domicile.
• KEA (Karnataka Examinations Authority): Manages Karnataka state quota seats. Open to candidates with Karnataka domicile.

Each process has its own registration portal, fee, timeline, and choice filling system. You must register separately on each portal where you are eligible. There is no automatic cross-registration.

MCC (All India Quota) registration

Portal and timeline

The MCC portal is at mcc.nic.in. Registration for AIQ Round 1 typically opens within 2 weeks of the NEET result. In 2025, MCC registration opened on 2 July for a result declared on 14 June, a gap of about 18 days. The registration window usually lasts 7-10 days.

Documents needed

• NEET 2026 scorecard (downloaded from NTA)
• NEET 2026 admit card
• Class 10 marksheet and certificate (for date of birth verification)
• Class 12 marksheet and passing certificate
• Government photo ID (Aadhaar preferred)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC Non-Creamy Layer/EWS), issued by competent authority
• PWD certificate from a government hospital, if applicable
• Passport-size photographs (white background)

Registration fee

MCC charges a registration fee that varies by category. In 2025, it was ₹1,000 for General/EWS and ₹500 for SC/ST/PWD candidates. Expect similar amounts for 2026. This fee is non-refundable.

Steps

1. Visit mcc.nic.in and click the NEET UG Counselling 2026 link.
2. Register with your NEET roll number, date of birth, and email/mobile number.
3. Fill in personal details, academic details, and category information.
4. Upload scanned documents in the specified format and file size (usually JPEG/PDF, 50-300 KB each).
5. Pay the registration fee online (net banking, UPI, or card).
6. Also pay the refundable security deposit. This was ₹10,000 for General/EWS and ₹5,000 for SC/ST in 2025. The deposit is refunded if you do not take admission, or adjusted against college fees if you do.
7. Submit the form and save the confirmation page.

CET Cell (Maharashtra) registration

Portal and timeline

Maharashtra state counselling is managed by CET Cell at cetcell.mahacet.org. Registration usually opens around the same time as MCC or slightly later. The window is typically 7-10 days.

Documents needed

All documents listed for MCC, plus:

• Domicile certificate (Maharashtra) or proof of residency in Maharashtra
• Caste validity certificate (for reserved categories in Maharashtra; a regular caste certificate is not sufficient for some categories)
• Non-Creamy Layer certificate (for OBC candidates, must be recently issued)
• EWS certificate issued by the Tehsildar (valid for the current financial year)

Maharashtra requires a caste validity certificate for certain reserved categories, which is different from the regular caste certificate. This takes time to obtain. If you do not have it yet, start the process now; do not wait for counselling to open.

Registration fee

CET Cell charges a registration-cum-counselling fee. In recent years, this has been around ₹1,000 for open category and ₹800 for reserved categories. The exact amount for 2026 will be announced in the counselling notification.

Steps

1. Visit cetcell.mahacet.org and navigate to the NEET UG 2026 counselling section.
2. Create an account using your NEET application number, mobile number, and email.
3. Fill in personal, academic, and domicile details.
4. Upload scanned copies of all required documents.
5. Pay the registration fee via the online payment gateway.
6. Submit and download the completed registration form for your records.

KEA (Karnataka) registration

Portal and timeline

Karnataka counselling is handled by KEA at kea.kar.nic.in. KEA sometimes opens registration before the NEET result using a separate state entrance or verification process, but the actual seat allotment uses your NEET rank. Registration typically runs for 7-10 days.

Documents needed

All documents listed for MCC, plus:

• Karnataka domicile certificate or Study certificate (7 years of schooling in Karnataka)
• Kannada medium certificate (if claiming Kannada medium reservation)
• Rural area study certificate (if claiming Hyderabad-Karnataka reservation)
• Income certificate (for fee concession categories)

Registration fee

KEA charges a registration fee that varies by category. In recent years, it has been around ₹1,500 for General category and ₹750 for SC/ST candidates. Refer to the KEA notification for 2026 amounts.

Steps

1. Visit kea.kar.nic.in and find the UGCET / NEET UG 2026 counselling link.
2. Register using your NEET roll number and personal details.
3. Fill in domicile and category details specific to Karnataka’s reservation system.
4. Upload documents in the prescribed format.
5. Pay the fee online.
6. Complete document verification at the designated help centres (KEA sometimes requires in-person verification in addition to online upload).

KEA’s in-person document verification is a step that catches many students off guard. Check the counselling schedule for verification dates and centres as soon as registration opens.

Common registration mistakes

Every year, students lose time or seats because of avoidable errors during registration. Here are the most frequent ones:

• Wrong category selection: Selecting “General” when you belong to a reserved category (or vice versa) can disqualify you from seats you are eligible for. Double-check this against your certificates.
• Document format issues: Each portal has specific requirements for file format (JPEG vs PDF), resolution (typically 200 DPI), and size limits (50-300 KB). Documents that exceed the size limit will fail to upload. Compress and resize before attempting.
• Expired certificates: OBC Non-Creamy Layer and EWS certificates must be from the current financial year. A certificate from last year will be rejected.
• Missing the deadline: Registration windows are firm. If you miss the last date by even one day, there is no extension. Set reminders.
• Not registering for all eligible processes: If you have Maharashtra domicile, register for both MCC (AIQ) and CET Cell. Participating in only one process limits your options unnecessarily. The same applies to Karnataka domicile students with KEA and MCC.

After registration: what comes next

Once registration closes, each counselling authority announces the choice filling window. This is when you submit your ranked preference list of colleges and categories. The window is usually 3-5 days for MCC and 5-7 days for state counselling bodies.

If you have already researched your college options using the College Predictor, you will be in a strong position to fill choices quickly and confidently. The AI Choice Filler can generate an optimized preference list based on your rank, category, and priorities (location, fees, college type). Preparing this list before the official window opens saves time and reduces stress.

Read the full counselling process guide for a detailed walkthrough of what happens after registration: choice filling, seat allotment, reporting to college, and how subsequent rounds work.

Start your college research now. Run the College Predictor with your NEET rank to see Safe, Target, and Reach colleges across AIQ, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The more prepared you are before choice filling opens, the better your final allotment will be.