Gujarat’s aspiring doctors now face a crucial wait as the first round of medical admissions officially concludes, marking a pivotal moment for thousands of students across the state. With the initial phase of college and course selection finalized, authorities are now preparing to announce seat allocations, a development that will determine the academic future of countless young lives. Families and students throughout Gujarat eagerly await these results, as the conclusion of this highly competitive round sets the stage for the next steps in their medical education journey.
Overview of Admissions
The first round of admissions for medical courses in Gujarat has successfully ended. This round included seats for MBBS and BDS degrees across government, private. NRI quota categories in many medical and dental colleges for the academic year 2025-26. The process is managed by the Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC). Gujarat has a total of 7,250 MBBS seats and 1,155 BDS seats available for admission. These seats are spread across 40 medical and 13 dental colleges in the state. Admission to these courses is based on the scores students get in the NEET UG examination.
Key Numbers from Round One
The first round saw a large number of students participating in the seat selection process. Out of 24,406 students who were on the merit list, 19,288 students submitted their choices for colleges and courses. Based on their merit, a total of 6,827 seats were given out in this first round. This included 5,761 seats for MBBS courses and 1,066 seats for BDS courses. After the first round, some seats remained empty. There are 654 MBBS seats still vacant. Most of these, 636 seats, are under the NRI quota. 18 seats are for Persons with Disability (PwD). For BDS courses, 153 seats are empty, with 143 in the NRI quota and 10 in the PwD category. The cutoff marks for admission to various colleges and for different student categories have been announced. For top government medical colleges, the general category cutoff in NEET 2024 was above 650 marks, with the state quota cutoff close to 649. For GMERS colleges, which are government-aided, the general category cutoff in NEET 2024 was around 608 marks. Private colleges generally had lower cutoff marks for admission.
How the Process Worked
The admission process for medical and dental courses in Gujarat follows a clear online system. Students who wished to apply had to first buy a special online PIN and then complete their registration through the official website. After this initial step, students had to go to designated help centers for document verification. This step was crucial to make sure all submitted papers were correct and valid. Following document checks, eligible candidates participated in the online choice filling process, where they selected their preferred medical or dental colleges and courses. The deadline for filling choices in Round 1 was extended until August 13, 2025. The final seat allotment was then made based on the choices students filled, their NEET exam rank. the number of seats available in each college. Students who were given a seat in Round 1 have a specific time frame to pay their tuition fees. They can pay online or at certain HDFC Bank branches from August 13 to August 22, 2025. After paying the fees, students are required to visit the help centers again to submit their original documents for final verification. This needs to be done between August 18 and August 23, 2025.
What Happens Next
With the first round of medical admissions completed, the focus now shifts to the next steps for students and colleges. The Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC) has outlined the procedures for the upcoming rounds. Any vacant NRI (Non-Resident Indian) seats that were not filled in Round 1 will be moved to the management quota for the second round of counseling. Similarly, any unfilled seats for Persons with Disability (PwD) will be changed to their regular categories for the next round. All students who are on the Gujarat MBBS merit list are allowed to take part in the second round of counseling. For this, students will need to log in to the official website using their personal details and confirm their wish to join the second round. They will also have the chance to change their choices of courses and colleges for the second round, based on their new preferences or the availability of seats. If seats remain empty after the second round, the Admission Committee will conduct a mop-up round to fill these remaining seats. A final stray vacancy round may also be held if any seats are still vacant after the mop-up round. These additional rounds provide more chances for eligible students to get admission into medical and dental programs. The goal is to fill as many seats as possible and give opportunities to deserving students.
Views from Stakeholders
The conclusion of the first round of medical admissions has brought various reactions from different groups involved. A notable change in this year’s medical admission situation in Gujarat is the smaller number of students who passed the NEET exam. Around 7,000 fewer students from Gujarat cleared the exam compared to last year. This change is expected to cause the cutoff marks for admission to drop, which could help more students get into MBBS, BDS, Ayurveda. Homeopathy courses. Experts in medical admissions have suggested that students who scored lower marks in NEET this year should consider options beyond just MBBS, such as BDS, Ayurveda. Homeopathy programs, as there are many seats available in these fields. Concerns have also been expressed about delays in the admission process, affecting thousands of students who qualified for NEET. This has caused some uncertainty among aspiring medical students. Officials from the Admission Committee are working to ensure the process continues smoothly and that all necessary data is handled on time. The overall aim is to provide fair opportunities for all eligible students to pursue their medical education.
Understanding the System
The process of medical admissions in Gujarat is well-structured and follows specific laws and rules to ensure fairness. The Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC) is the main body responsible for carrying out the entire counseling process. The committee’s main purpose is to conduct admissions in a fair and open way, strictly based on the merit of each student. This means that students are admitted based on their performance in the NEET UG exam and their rank on the state merit list. The legal framework for these admissions comes from the Gujarat Professional Educational Medical Colleges or Institutions (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fees) Act, 2007. This law was passed by the Government of Gujarat to manage admissions and set fees in medical colleges and institutions across the state. Moreover, there is a separate Fee Regulatory Committee (Medical) that oversees the fee structures in these colleges. This system is designed to provide clear guidelines for all parts of the admission process, from applying to getting a seat. to make sure that all rules are followed. It aims to offer all eligible students a chance to study medical sciences in Gujarat. 
