Karnataka Increases MBBS Course Fees by 10% for Private Colleges

Fee Hike for MBBS Courses Announced: The Karnataka government has announced a 10 per cent increase in undergraduate medical course fees at private colleges for the 2024-25 academic year. The decision, formalised in a meeting with private medical college managements on August 17, 2024, aims to address rising operational costs faced by these institutions.
According to the new agreement, the fees for government quota seats in private medical colleges will rise to Rs 1,40,621.For private seats, the fee will now be Rs 11,88,161. This marks a notable change from the previous academic year when government quota seats were charged Rs 1,28,746 and private seats Rs 9,94,906. The fee increase comes after private college representatives had originally requested a hike of 15 to 20 per cent. However, the government agreed to a 10 per cent increase to balance the demands with affordability concerns.
This fee adjustment is significant, given that no change has been made to the fees for government medical colleges, which remain at Rs 50,000 per year. The recent increase contrasts with last year’s decision where the government had only permitted a fee rise of 10 per cent for minority medical colleges, rejecting higher hikes for other institutions.
MBBS Course Fees 2024-25

According to the media reports, Minister for Medical Education, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, initially opposed the fee hike but conceded after private college managements cited increased costs in maintenance, staff salaries, and other expenses. The increase is seen as a necessary measure to help colleges cope with their financial strains, but it does not extend to government medical colleges, where fees have remained static since 2021-22.
In addition to the fee hike, discussions about seat sharing between private colleges and the government remain unresolved. Private medical colleges have appealed to the high court against a recent ruling requiring them to allocate NRI seats to the government, delaying any decisions on this matter until the court’s judgement is finalised.
The fee increase also reflects a broader trend in educational costs in Karnataka. Recently, the state government allowed a 10 per cent increase in fees for engineering and architecture courses. However, despite pressure from private medical and dental colleges to raise fees by 10 to 15 per cent, the government has remained cautious, balancing financial needs with student affordability.
The Karnataka Private Medical and Dental Colleges Association has voiced concerns over financial difficulties faced by institutions due to stagnant fees over the past three years. They argue that while there is a provision to increase fees annually, it has not been utilised fully. The recent hike is seen as a partial measure to address these issues, but further discussions and decisions are anticipated as the government reviews the broader implications for medical education.
Overall, the fee hike for MBBS courses in Karnataka’s private medical colleges underscores the ongoing dialogue between the government and educational institutions to manage the costs of medical education while ensuring accessibility for students.