Students protest Karnataka's 15 percent NRI quota in Govt Medical Colleges
Karnataka- Students recently protested against the 15 percent NRI quota in Karnataka's government medical colleges for 2025-26, saying it reduces opportunities for local, economically disadvantaged students.
On Wednesday, members of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) staged a protest in front of the old Deputy Commissioner's office in Mysuru, demanding the withdrawal of the state's decision on NRI quota in government medical colleges.
In this regard, AIDSO District Secretary Nitin criticised the Karnataka government's decision to implement a 15% quota for NRIs in government medical colleges from the academic year 2025-26. Apart from this, a press release was also issued on the matter. The release said that government medical colleges were established to provide quality higher education to deserving and talented students regardless of their economic background.
According to the The Hindu news report, AIDSO District Secretary said, “This decision has pushed the economically disadvantaged students of the State who dream of medical education into a state of anxiety. Already, 15% of seats are allocated under the All India Quota. If an additional 15% of seats are reserved under NRI quota, then in a batch of 200 students, only 140 seats will remain for students from the State."
He also added, “By reserving seats for wealthy NRI students, opportunities for hundreds of talented students from working-class, poor, and middle-class families who aspire to serve society as doctors are being curtailed”.
Along with this, AIDSO District Vice President Swati also said that at a time when 12,447 teaching posts were vacant in government medical colleges in Karnataka, the government should give priority to filling these posts and improving the infrastructure.
Hence, she demanded that strengthening the teaching staff and facilities is the urgent need of the hour. Therefore, the government should take initiatives to meet these needs and create opportunities for deserving and talented students by abolishing the 15% NRI quota.
