Medical Education in Karnataka: 650 MBBS, 216 PG Medical Seats added to Seat Matrix

Bengaluru: In a major boost to medical education in Karnataka, from this academic year 650 MBBS and 216 Postgraduate medical seats have been added to the State seat matrix taking the total number of MBBS seats and PG seats to 10,795 and 5,360 respectively.

The reason for such a huge increase in the total number of medical seats is the recent approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC) for the government medical colleges in Haveri, Yadgir and Chikmagaluru and the medical seats in Sri Siddaganga Institute of Medical Sciences, Tumakuru. Apart from this, 50 medical seats have been increased in Ballari's Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences as well.

As per the information provided by the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya before the Lok Sabha in July, there were a total number of 63 medical colleges in Karnataka with an intake capacity of 10145, the second highest after Tamil Nadu with 10725 MBBS seats.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that these 10145 seats, 3150 MBBS seats are in the 21 Government medical colleges, whereas there are a total number of 6995 MBBS seats in 42 private medical colleges.

Also Read: With 91,927 MBBS seats, 612 Medical Colleges operative in India: Health Minister gives breakup

Back in 2020, the total number of MBBS seats in Karnataka was 9,395 and there were altogether 4, 913 PG seats back then. The following year the MBBS seats increased to 10, 145 and the PG seats to 5, 144. Therefore, the overall increase was 6.4% in MBBS seats and 4.2% in PG seats.

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, recently NMC gave its nod for 150 MBBS seats in each of the Government medical colleges in Haveri, Yadgir and Chikmagaluru. Apart from this, 150 MBBS seats have been approved in Sri Siddaganga Institute of Medical Sciences, Tumakuru and 50 MBBS seats have been increased in Ballari's Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences.

Therefore, 650 MBBS seats have added to the State seat matrix. Meanwhile, Rajarajeshwari Medical College is yet to be added to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) and once that is done, the total number of State quota MBBS seats will increase further.

Speaking about this, Principal secretary (medical education) Naveen Singh told TOI that the process of adding seats from Rajrajeshwari medical college to the State pool is undergoing already. 

Also Read: Haveri Institute of Medical Sciences gets NMC permission for 150 MBBS Seats