Karnataka: NRI, other categories have few takers due to exorbitant fee

Bengaluru: The exorbitant fee of NRI and ‘other category’ in Karnataka Medical Colleges, which otherwise, fall in the sort after range have few takers this time. The immediate reason being the 40% fee hike witnessed this year, as compared to the earlier ones.

The scenario of admissions to these two categories can be termed dismal, since at the end of the first round of medical and dental seat counselling through NEET ranks, only 29 of the total 577 medical seats under the NRI quota have been filled and admission formalities completed.

15% of the NRI quota seats are reserved for Non-Resident Indians, Overseas Citizen Of India and foreigners, & Persons of Indian Origin; while 5% ‘other’ seats are available to NEET ranking candidate .

The dental category filling of seats has also been meager, with just 1 of the 127 ‘other’ category seats take up, with admission formalities complete, admitted the college.

The Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) officials assigning reasons for poor response to these seats called them 'inaffordable' and 'extremely expensive'.

“Most candidates who have applied under these categories do not have good NEET ranks. So, they are unlikely to get government or private quota seats. They have to pick NRI and other quota if they want a medical seat,” a KEA official told the Hindu.

Medical Education Department sources pointed out that most candidates for these two categories have applied for choices two and three. This means that they are either satisfied with their seat and want to better their options or are not satisfied, but wish to participate in the next round. “The correct picture will be known after the second round and the mop up round. Before mop up round, we will allow fresh registrations too,” an official in the department stated.

Additional Chief Secretary V. Manjula pointed out that as per orders of the Supreme Court, the vacant seats are to be handed over to the respective institutions with a list of unallotted candidates in the order of merit. The ratio for this being 1:10 for one vacancy.

The other categories have more takers as they cost less.Of the 2,248 seats in government medical colleges, 1,164 students have completed admission formalities.

Similarly, of 1,346 seats under government quota, 478 students have paid their fee. Out of 2,023 seats available, 668 candidates have completed the admission formalities.