Karnataka requests Centre to allow 15% NRI quota for MBBS seats in govt medical colleges

Justifying the proposal to have an NRI quota in government medical colleges, Patil cited University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines for international students’ admission and supernumerary seats in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. He also mentioned the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasised the intake of international students in Indian higher educational institutions for global outreach.

The minister also cited the examples of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Puducherry, which provide a 7-15 per cent quota for NRI students in government medical colleges charging over $75,000 (Rs 62 lakh approximately) to $1,00,000 (Rs 83 lakh approximately) for a five-year course. In Karnataka, only private medical colleges are allowed to take NRI students who pay Rs 1 crore to Rs 2.5 crore.

It may be noted that government veterinary, agriculture and horticulture universities in Karnataka have 15 per cent NRI quota and these are above the sanctioned intake and higher fees collected help these universities provide better facilities and quality education.

The minister mentioned that autonomous medical institutions in the state are experiencing a shortage of funds despite budgetary allocations, student fees, central and state grants, and other donations. He argued that in order to make these institutions centres of excellence, additional funds are necessary for quality education, training, maintenance, purchasing medical equipment and drugs, managing patient load, improving infrastructure, increasing faculty strength, and research.

“Creating NRI quota within the available annual intake of seats is not feasible and disturbing the existing intake will create fewer seats for the poor and underprivileged, also triggering protests from students and parents” Dr Patil said.

The minister also proposed fixing an annual fee of Rs 25 lakh per student to generate Rs 127 crore for the medical education department for the first year and Rs 571.5 crore from the fifth year onwards.

“I am confident that the Centre would accede to the state’s demand to sanction 15 per cent NRI quota by creating supernumerary MBBS seats from the academic year 2025-26,” said Patil.

There are 22 government medical colleges under the medical education department with a total intake capacity of 3,450 seats for 2023-24. Of these, 85 per cent (2,929 seats) are reserved for the Karnataka quota, while 15 per cent (521 seats) are allotted for the all-India quota.

Agenda to commercialise and privatise medical colleges

In condemnation of the Karnataka government’s move to introduce NRI quota in government medical colleges, Allamaprabhu Bettaduru, president of All India Save Education Committee (AISEC), Karnataka, stated, “The financial and moral bankruptcy of the Karnataka government is evident in its appeal to allow 15 per cent supernumerary MBBS seats, essentially auctioned to the wealthy under the NRI Quota. Government institutions, built with the sweat and blood of millions, are not private property. This move attacks the foundations of democratic and quality education. The people of Karnataka will not tolerate such actions.”

“The government’s agenda to commercialise and privatise medical colleges is clear. The state is a custodian of public property, not a private owner. It should cut wasteful expenditures, stop tax reliefs to corporates, and reduce ministers’ salaries instead. AISEC urges students, doctors, and the public to resist this undemocratic move and calls on the central government and NMC to reject Karnataka’s illegal demand,” Bettaduru added.