Karnataka State New Medical Colleges and MBBS Seat Increase 2026 Proposal

The Karnataka State Government plans to further increase the number of medical seats in the state by submitting proposals to the NMC for the approval of new medical colleges in Ramanagara and Bagalkot. The approval of the new medical colleges by the NMC will further strengthen Karnataka’s medical infrastructure, cementing its position as the leading state with the highest number of MBBS seats in the country. 

 

Overview of MBBS Seats in Karnataka

As of January 13th, 2026, there are a total of 13,944 MBBS seats in Karnataka, which are distributed across 72 medical institutions across the state. Over 36% of the total seats, i.e., 5,045 MBBS seats, were in private institutes, the highest compared to other institute types. The government institute type held over 30% of the total MBBS seats in Karnataka in 2025, with 4,249 MBBS seats. 2,800 MBBS seats were in 12 deemed institutes in the state, and 1,850 MBBS seats were in state private universities across the state. 

 

The year 2025 witnessed a 13.53% increase in the number of MBBS seats from 2024, which had 12,395 MBBS seats. The National Medical Commission (NMC) had also approved a new medical college, Farookh Academy of Medical Education Hospital and Research Institute, Mysore, for the NEET 2025 session, which had a seat capacity of 100. In addition to this, the NMC had also approved new MBBS seats in many existing colleges across the state, bringing the total new seats in 2025 to 1,549.

 

Also Read Karnataka Medical College MBBS Seat Distribution in 2025

 

Proposals to NMC for New Medical Colleges in Karnataka

The Karnataka state government has decided to send proposals to the NMC for opening new medical colleges in Ramanagara and Bagalkot for the NEET 2026-27 session.

Proposals Denied by NMC

Previously, the state government sought approvals for new medical colleges in Ramanagara and Kanakapura. The requests to open these new medical colleges were, however, denied due to factors including a lack of infrastructure and inadequate teaching & non-teaching staff in these institutes. The permission to start new colleges in Ramanagara and Kanakapura was denied by NMC for three consecutive years, i.e., 2023-24, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026.

 

Requirements by the NMC

The National Medical Commission (NMC) will only approve the medical colleges if they meet the set criteria. For a college to be approved, it must have the required infrastructure, including an attached hospital with sufficient beds, libraries, laboratories, etc. As per NMC rules, for every 220 beds, 50 medical seats will be sanctioned. Furthermore, the colleges must have the required teaching staff, as understaffing would only add stress to the staff. Due to this, they will not be able to properly train the candidates. Institutes need to ensure that they meet the required criteria before applying for approval.

Initiatives by the State Government

• Funding for New Institutions: Recently, in October 2025, the state government gave the green light to construct a new medical college with a hospital in Kanakapura by providing a fund of Rs. 550 crore. 
  
  
• Word from the Minister of Medical Education: Furthermore, the Minister of Medical Education, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, stated, “It has been decided to submit a request to the NMC for the opening of medical colleges in Ramanagara and Bagalkot this year. Around 50% of the construction work on the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) new campus in Ramanagara has been completed, and the remaining work will be completed in seven months. In addition, there is a district hospital with a capacity of about 300 beds for the opening of a medical college”. 
  
  
• Opening of New Medical Colleges: The Minister also said that the government has taken steps to make the necessary recruitment for the opening of new medical colleges. The medical colleges with good infrastructure have been instructed to submit proposals for seat enhancement.

 

Benefits for Candidates and Society

The initiatives by the Karnataka state government will surely bring smiles to the faces of candidates looking to pursue medical education in prestigious institutions in the state. The enhancement of MBBS seats in the state will further increase the chances for candidates to get admission in a medical college. The competition for getting an MBBS seat allotment, though intense, may be lighter with an increase in the number of seats. 

 

The increase in the number of medical professionals in the state will further strengthen the medical infrastructure in the region. By opening new medical colleges and increasing the number of seats in the state, the government aims to ensure that medicine is accessible even in the remotest parts of the state.

 

Karnataka is a hub for medical education for aspirants looking to pursue their careers in medicine. The addition of new medical seats to the existing colleges and the opening of new medical colleges will further cement its position as the leading medical education provider in the country.