Karnataka increases NRI MBBS seats in govt medical colleges from 57 to 105, fee fixed at 25.09 lakh

Bengaluru: Karnataka has nearly doubled the number of MBBS seats available under the NRI quota in government medical colleges this year, increasing them from 57 seats across nine colleges last year to 105 seats across 14 institutes.

The NRI quota fee in government medical colleges are priced at Rs 25,09,350, as per the TOI report.

The quota was introduced last year with the aim of helping government medical colleges generate additional revenue and reduce their dependence on state government grants.

Last year, 57 seats were offered across nine government institutions. This year, the quota has been extended to all government medical colleges that received an increase in their MBBS intake.

Under the arrangement, 15% of the additional MBBS seats in these colleges have been allocated to the NRI category. As a result, several colleges now have around eight NRI quota seats each.

Also read- Karnataka yet to refund fees to SC students admitted under management, NRI quota medical seats

With government institutions entering the higher-fee category, private medical colleges have also started revising their NRI fees to attract students. Prominent institutions including Mysore Medical College and Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Hubballi, have also introduced NRI quota seats.

The increase in NRI seats in government medical colleges has impacted private medical colleges, with at least seven institutions reducing their NRI quota fees this year. The fee cuts range from a few thousand rupees to Rs 4 lakh.

While several private colleges have reduced their NRI fees, some have increased their charges this year. These colleges largely had NRI quota fees between Rs 28 lakh and Rs 35 lakh last year.

The highest NRI quota fee continues to be Rs 45 lakh at MS Ramaiah Medical College, Sapthagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Chikkaballapur.

Overall, Karnataka has 15,395 MBBS seats available this year, with option entry for medical and dental seats already underway.

Commenting on this, MR Jayaram, honorary secretary of the Karnataka Private and Medical Colleges Association, told TOI, "It is a question of supply and demand. The number of colleges has increased, so have the seats. Even govt colleges have started a high fee category. The competition has increased. It is about who can afford to pay. Some medical colleges have thus continued to tweak their fees to attract students.”

A Chairman of one of the colleges that have reduced fees said, "Demand continues to be there, but affordability is a major factor that colleges need to keep in mind. The number of seats has increased this year. This is apart from the NRI quota that govt colleges started at Rs 25 lakh. So while we maintained the management quota at Rs 36,11,950, the NRI quota fee is at Rs 34,11,950. NRI seats are important as it is how we balance the expenditure on the low-fee seats."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Karnataka Medical Education Department was considering introducing a 15 percent quota for Non Resident Indians (NRIs) across all government medical college seats from the 2026-27 academic year.

Also read- Karnataka mulls 15 percent NRI quota in govt medical colleges