Karnataka: Proposal to Relax Compulsory Rural Service for MBBS graduates Gets Governor's Approval
Government Bond Service
Bengaluru: In a major relief to the medical students in Karnataka, the Governor of the State, Thaawarchand Gehlot, recently approved the Karnataka Compulsory Service by Candidates completed Medical Courses (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which will allow them to pursue postgraduate medical education without completing the bond service obligation first.
Under this amendment, the Government will relax the rule requiring medical graduates to mandatorily serve in rural areas after their graduation.
The ordinance stated that the vacancies in the rural areas of Karnataka will be filled on priority basis and if the number of candidates are more than the number of vacancies in rural areas, then the vacancies in urban areas may be filled by posting the candidates with a clause making it mandatory for them to render one-year compulsory service.
Also Read: Karnataka Govt Proposes Restricting Compulsory Service Only for GMC Graduates
Further, the ordinance stresses to provide no-objection certificates to students to pursue higher studies without fulfilling their bond service requirement. However, for this, the candidates will have to submit an affidavit or undertaking stating their commitment to fulfill the bond obligation of one-year compulsory service after completing their postgraduate studies, The New Indian Express has reported.
If the candidates fail to fulfill the bond obligation even after postgraduation, they will have to pay bond penalty and they will be liable for other consequences, stated the ordinance.
Further, under this amendment, the candidates who have passed medical courses from government quota seats will get priority to fill up the existing vacancies. The remaining vacancies may be filled by candidates who have studied under institutional seats and surplus candidates may be exempted from the compulsory service.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently, the Maharashtra Government also put the one-year government bond service requirement for postgraduate medical admissions on hold.
As per the previous Government Order dating back to 2017, MBBS graduates are required to complete their bond service before joining postgraduate medical courses. However, issuing an order on Thursday, the State Medical Education Department stayed the requirement. The order stated, "The 2017 state government resolution requiring MBBS graduates to complete their bond service before joining PG courses had been put on hold till further orders."
Meanwhile, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has also approved the Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of transfer of medical officers and other staff) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025. Under this legislation, the initial appointment, transfer, or promotion of a medical officer or other staff will be done through counselling.
As per the ordinance, a medical officer or other staff member who is in service and has completed the prescribed number of years of continuous service, may be transferred through counselling to another, giving priority to those who have put in longer period of service or tenure. It also stresses that a medical officer or any other staff may be posted without counselling at any time to fill a critical vacancy.
Also Read: Relief to MBBS Graduates: Maha Stays Bond Service Requirement for PG Aspirants
