Karnataka NEET UG 2025: State Introduces 15% NRI Quota; 400 New MBBS Seats Added to Govt Colleges

In a significant boost to medical aspirants, the Karnataka government has announced the introduction of a 15% NRI quota in its government medical colleges for the first time. This groundbreaking decision, along with the recent approval of 400 additional MBBS seats by the National Medical Commission (NMC), is set to reshape the Karnataka NEET UG 2025 counselling process. These new seats and the revised policies will be implemented from Round 2 onwards, providing more opportunities for a wider range of candidates.

NRI Quota and Fixed Fee

The new NRI quota will have a fixed annual fee of ₹25 lakh per seat. This move is aimed at making government medical colleges more financially self-reliant and less dependent on state grants. The quota is a direct response to the rising number of Indian students residing abroad seeking to pursue medical education in their home country. This provides a clear and affordable pathway for NRI aspirants who previously had to compete for limited seats in private or deemed universities with much higher fees.

Significant Increase in Seat Matrix

The new seats will be a welcome relief for thousands of students. As confirmed by Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, the NMC has approved an additional 400 MBBS seats, which have been distributed equally among eight government medical colleges, with each receiving 50 new seats. These colleges are located in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Chikkaballapur, Hassan, Raichur, and Vijayanagar.

Furthermore, specific additions were also made in other colleges:

• 12 medical seats at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Belgaum.
• 40 seats at Farooqui Dental College, Mysore.
• 50 seats at BGS Global Dental College.

These seat enhancements will be reflected in the updated seat matrix for Round 2, leading to a total increase of 450 MBBS seats in the state. This brings the total number of medical seats in Karnataka to 9,663 for the current academic year. The revised seat matrix provides a golden opportunity for many deserving candidates who missed out on a seat in the first round due to high competition.

Impact on Aspirants

The new seat additions are expected to lower the NEET UG cutoff scores, making it more accessible for a wider range of students. Aspirants are advised to carefully check the updated seat matrix and reassess their college preferences for Round 2. For all the latest news on medical admissions and for regular updates on the counselling process, follow Only Education News.