5 percent NRI quota in Govt Medical Colleges: Karnataka Government to NMC

 

 

The Karnataka government has proposed to the National Medical Commission (NMC) that it permit a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota within the state's government medical colleges. This proposal aims to raise funding for advancement in medical education development and research in the state.

 

As of 2024, Karnataka has 68 Medical and 45 Dental Colleges. 62 medical colleges participate in Karnataka state counselling, 24 of which are government medical colleges. The Karnataka Examination Authority, the official state medical counselling authority, allots 8,522 of the 11,595 MBBS seats in the state. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) allocates the remaining 3073 seats. 

 

The proposed 5% supernumerary seats across the 22 government-run colleges (the 2 ESIC medical colleges pending instructions from the Central Government) would not be subsidized. The Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Karnataka, did not get a response from the NMC on the same proposal last year. 

 

Currently, two Union Territories (UTs) — Puducherry and Chandigarh — and four states — Rajasthan, Haryana, Goa, and Himachal Pradesh—have NRI quotas within their government medical colleges. Karnataka is an Open state, meaning students from across the country can apply and compete for MBBS seats. 

 

 

Also Read: India's First Ever NEET Counselling Portal | hellomentor.in

 

 

Hello Mentor’s Exclusive Analysis of the Karnataka Government's request

 

 

A notable aspect of the proposal that requires clarification is whether the Karnataka government’s proposal affects the seat matrices of the 24 government-run medical colleges in the state.

 

Rest assured, the answer is no. The proposal is designed to introduce a new element without disrupting the existing structure, ensuring the stability and continuity of the system.

 

Dr. B.L. Sujatha Rathod, Director, Directorate of Medical Education (Karnataka), spoke to Hello Mentor, stating, “Through the new proposal sent to NMC, we are looking at adding a minimum of 5% seats to the existing number. We hope to get more meritorious students under the NRI quota in the government medical colleges.”

 

Elaborating further, Dr. Rathod continued, “NRI candidates always bring a little extra income to the institutes which can be helpful for the development of the institutes. 

 

If the National Medical Commission approves, the 5% NRI Quota will add additional seats to government medical colleges. The number of seats within this proposed quota can also be estimated by comparing it to the total number of Government MBBS seats in the state.

 

NRI quotas can generate quite a nominal income in government medical colleges, which will help develop student research programmes, and colleges won’t have to wait for grants. The amount can also be used for projects related to health and wellness of the society.” 

 

There are 3,750 Government MBBS seats in Karnataka across 24 colleges.  Since the proposal aims to add 5% seats, approximately 180-200 NRI quota seats will be allotted across government-run medical colleges in Karnataka.

 

 

The NRI Quota in Medical Counselling only exists in private medical colleges across Karnataka. Fee Structures for candidates under this category range from Rs. 25 - 50 Lakh annually. The NRI quota seats under the proposed addition in government-run shall have the fee range of Rs. 15-20 Lakh annually.

 

 

Also Read: Puducherry Medical College Seat Distribution

 

NRI Quota MBBS Seat Distribution Across Karnataka

 

 

Non-resident Indian medical aspirants or candidates sponsored by them can apply under this category for available medical courses nationwide. It aims to provide Indian-origin students residing overseas for admission to medical colleges without having to compete in the general competition pool of candidates. 

 

Following the Supreme Court's TMA Pai judgement of 2002, private medical institutions reserve 15% of the total seats under the NRI quota. We can analyse this metric further to examine the NRI quota seats available in private medical colleges. 

 

The Karnataka Examination Authority conducts counselling for 8,522 of the total 11,595 MBBS seats. 5,295 seats exist in the 32 private medical colleges in Karnataka. The NRI & Management quotas, present only in private colleges, account for 1,028 seats. 

 

The number of seats in the NRI category has seen steady growth. This number has increased from 694 in 2021 to 761 in 2022 and to 767 available NRI quota seats in 2023. 

 

“As per the Supreme Court order, every person who studies in a government medical college should have compulsory service, be it NRI or other students. Everybody, including NRIs, will serve the service bond,” Dr Rathod said.

 

Understanding and considering these factors is essential for aspiring medical and dental students to understand the dynamic landscape of NEET admissions. Hello Mentor offers student-centric services that help you stay informed about various medical colleges' seat matrices, closing ranks, and fee structures.

 

These tools can help you continuously monitor and analyze critical information that can assist you in making informed decisions about the admission process. By using Hello Mentor’s services, you can ensure that fairness and equity are maintained throughout the admissions process.

 

 

Also Read: A Record 23.3 Lakh Candidates Appear for NEET UG 2024