Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has requested the Centre to sanction supernumerary MBBS seats in government autonomous medical colleges under the Department of Medical Education from the academic year 2025-26 onwards in order to start NRI quota in medical colleges.
Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said in a statement that he has written to the Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC) requesting sanction of 15 per cent NRI quota by creating 508 additional supernumerary MBBS seats for admission in 22 government medical colleges in the state.
Patil supported the move by referencing UGC guidelines and the National Education Policy 2020, which underscore the importance of international student intake for global outreach. Examples from states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab were cited, where NRI quotas in government medical colleges already exist.
Despite budgetary allocations and other revenue streams, autonomous medical institutions in Karnataka suffer from funding shortages. Patil argued that additional funds are key to transforming these centers into institutions of excellence. These funds would go toward improving infrastructure, faculty strength, research, and overall quality of education.
The minister pointed out that creating an NRI quota within the current annual intake of seats is impractical, as it could reduce opportunities for underprivileged students and provoke protests. Instead, a proposed annual fee of Rs 25 lakh per NRI student could generate substantial revenue.
Patil expressed confidence that the Centre would approve the state’s request, enabling the introduction of a 15% NRI quota in government medical colleges from 2025-26 onward.
