No Fee Hike for MBBS, BDS courses in Karnataka this Year
Bengaluru: In a relief for aspiring medical and dental students in Karnataka, the state government has decided not to increase the fee structure for undergraduate medical (MBBS) and dental (BDS) courses for the academic year 2025–26. This move comes despite persistent demands from private medical and dental colleges to raise fees by 10% to 15%.
Confirming the decision after a meeting with representatives of private college managements, Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said the 10% hike approved last year was adequate and no further increase would be permitted. An official agreement reflecting this stand is expected to be signed soon.
According to a recent report by IANS, the Karnataka government announced that there will be no increase in the fee structure for medical and dental courses for the upcoming academic year. Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Livelihood and the district in-charge minister for Raichur, Sharan Prakash Patil, confirmed the decision after a meeting with office bearers of private medical and dental college managements on Saturday.
Private institutions had sought permission for a fee hike ranging from 10% to 15%. However, Minister Patil said that although a 10% fee increase was allowed last year, the government will not approve any further hikes this year.
He responded promptly to the matter during the meeting and reiterated that the previous year’s hike was sufficient. He further stated that an agreement reflecting this decision will be signed soon.
Minister Patil urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to increase the number of postgraduate medical seats from 600 to 700 and undergraduate seats to 800, to support students from underprivileged backgrounds, adds IANS
In September 2024, the minister ordered the formation of a fee regulatory committee to monitor and regulate the fee structures of nursing colleges across the state following the complaints about exorbitant fees allegedly charged by them.
The five-member fee regulatory committee is headed by the Joint Secretary of the Medical Education Department.
Patil also directed officials to withdraw the Essential and Feasibility Certificate of any nursing college found charging more than the government-approved fee structure.
In a move against substandard para-medical colleges, Minister Patil had also directed officials to withdraw affiliations and shut down institutions failing to meet infrastructure and teaching standards.
