Karnataka minister writes to Centre seeking NRI quota in government medical colleges

The minister has proposed that an annual fee of Rs 25 lakh per student can be fixed which would generate Rs 127 crore for the medical education department for the first year.

Bengaluru: The state government has appealed to the Centre seeking its approval for supernumerary MBBS seats in government autonomous medical colleges, under the Department of Medical Education, from the 2025-26 academic year.

The proposal aims to introduce 15% NRI quota in government medical colleges, generate revenue and improve quality of education

Medical Education Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil has written to the chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking the commission to sanction 508  supernumerary MBBS seats for admissions in the 22 government medical colleges in the state, under the 15% NRI quota. 

The minister has also proposed an annual fee of Rs 25 lakh per student, which would generate Rs 127 crore for the medical education department for the first-year and Rs 571.5 crore from the fifth year onwards.

“I am confident that the Centre would accede to state’s demand to sanction 15% NRI quota by creating supernumerary MBBS seats, and enable the state to start NRI quota in government medical colleges from the 2025-26 academic year,” he stated

There are 22 government medical colleges under the Department of Medical Education with an intake capacity of 3,450 seats for the year 2023-24. Out of which, 2,929 seats (85%) fall under Karnataka quota and 521 (15%) all-India quota. 

The minister said that the Centre has allowed states like Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry to fill 7-15% seats in government medical colleges, under NRI quota. The course fee under the said quota ranges between $75,000 and $100,000, he noted.

The minister added that in Karnataka only private medical colleges are allowed to take NRI students charging them in the range of Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.5 crore as course fee while the government colleges are deprived of such quota.