India's senior citizen reservation bid and NEET seat updates spark medical admission debate

A 69‑year‑old NEET UG 2026 aspirant, Ashok Bahar, filed a petition in the Lucknow High Court seeking a 1 % reservation for senior citizens in MBBS admissions. He argues that groups such as persons with disabilities, freedom fighters, ex‑servicemen and athletes receive special quotas, and that the Supreme Court has already removed age limits for the NEET exam. Bahar urges the court to direct the government to create a policy granting senior citizens dedicated seats.

Separately, the National Medical Council released the MBBS seat matrix for the 2026‑27 academic year for Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Madhya Pradesh now offers a total of 6,020 MBBS seats (3,020 in 20 government colleges and 3,000 in 14 private colleges), while Rajasthan provides 7,180 seats (4,480 in 33 government colleges and 3,600 in 18 private colleges). Both states added new seats, primarily in the private sector, outlining the scale of medical college capacity ahead of upcoming NEET counselling.