October 22, 2025

Bengaluru is buzzing as Karnataka adds a dazzling 422 new postgraduate (PG) medical seats for the academic year 2025–26. These seats cover over 20 departments like paediatrics, anaesthesiology, forensic medicine, and microbiology, including 50 pre-clinical, 60 para-clinical, and 312 clinical seats. Sharanprakash R Patil, Medical Education Minister, called it a "Diwali gift for students," welcoming the increase from 1,694 PG seats last year to a grand total of 2,116 seats this year. Meanwhile, the National Medical Commission gave a nod to 450 new undergraduate seats and introduced a 15% NRI quota in government medical colleges for the first time. But amid this fanfare, a storm brews! Students and parents are demanding more freedom. Right now, Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) allows candidates, even those who took seats in rounds 1 and 2, to apply only for the newly-added seats. However, students want the power to upgrade to any seat from all colleges, not just fresh seats. As one parent pointed out, "For instance, a student has now got a seat in a private college for Rs 25 lakh. If all the options are open, he can definitely get a better seat in a good college for Rs 12 lakh, thus saving Rs 13 lakh yearly. Now, KEA has permitted option entry for only the freshly added seats that may not be the best option for the student." KEA officials stand firm. H Prasanna, Executive Director of KEA, explained, "We had the same issue in previous years. It was not permitted even by the court." Yet, disappointed students are not backing down. A parent highlighted, "In the third round alone, 450 seats were added. This was in addition to 300 leftover seats. This is such a large number. All students should get to upgrade all their seats." The tension sets the stage for possible legal action as students seek justice to upgrade seats freely. With the new seats and policies, Karnataka’s medical education scene is vibrant but complex. Will the authorities change course or hold their ground? Only time will tell!

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Tags: Karnataka examinations authority, Medical seats, Pg medical courses, Seat allotment, Nri quota, Medical education,