In order to enhance the standard of Karnataka’s medical institutions and boost fund flow, the Karnataka government has requested the Centre to create 508 supernumerary MBBS seats, which includes a 15% NRI quota as well. If the proposal is approved, 22 government medical colleges in Karnataka will benefit from the initiative beginning 2025.
The minister stressed the importance of admitting international students in the State’s medical colleges by highlighting how NRI quotas were already operational in the government medical colleges of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Patil, who is himself a qualified doctor with a master’s degree in dermatology, said that the shortage of funds faced by Karnataka’s medical colleges can be addressed only by creating these additional seats through which an annual fee of Rs.25 lakh can be collected from each NRI student. The revenue generated in this manner can be used for improving the quality of education and infrastructure, besides building faculty strength and promoting research.
The existing number of seats per year is not enough to bring in ample funds to positively transform the medical education setup in Karnataka. The NRI quota, if granted, can accommodate a larger number of students whose education fee is expected to make a difference to the State, feels the minister. – editor@nrifocus.com
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