BENGALURU
The Directorate of Medical Education has proposed introducing a 15 per cent Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota across all government medical colleges in Karnataka, a move aimed at increasing institutional revenue and addressing funding gaps in medical education.
Last year, the NRI quota was introduced on a limited scale, applicable only to additional seats added after the first round of counselling. At that time, around 67 seats were offered under the quota, covering approximately 450 newly added seats. The new proposal seeks to extend the benefit across all MBBS and postgraduate seats in state-run institutions.
At present, Karnataka has around 4,200 MBBS seats in government medical colleges, of which 15 per cent fall under the all-India quota. The directorate has suggested a uniform fee of ₹25 lakh for MBBS seats under the proposed NRI category. For postgraduate courses, it has recommended a differential fee structure, with varying rates for clinical and para-clinical programmes.
“We have recommended a uniform fee structure for MBBS seats across colleges. However, for PG, we suggest different rates for clinical and paraclinical programmes,” said Sujatha Rathod, Director of Medical Education.
The medical education department clarified that no final decision has been taken yet. Sources said the finance department has raised queries regarding the cost-benefit implications of the proposal and its long-term impact on access to medical education.
Officials argue that the proposal is intended to supplement government funding, as existing grants are considered insufficient to meet rising operational costs of medical colleges and hospitals. The department believes an expanded NRI quota could provide a steady additional revenue stream.
Currently, NRI admissions in Karnataka are restricted to private medical colleges, where MBBS fees reportedly range between ₹1 crore and ₹2.5 crore. Several agricultural and veterinary universities in the state already have up to 15 per cent NRI quota in place.
Similar policies exist in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. However, the earlier attempt to introduce a broader NRI quota in Karnataka faced resistance from several stakeholders.
The proposal will require approval from the finance department followed by a final nod from the state cabinet before implementation.
