Union Health Ministry approves record medical seat expansion for Karnataka UG and PG courses

Bengaluru: Karnataka minister Sharan Prakash Patil on Saturday announced that the state has been allotted an additional 1,122 medical seats, calling it a significant boost and a golden opportunity for aspiring health professionals across the state. This development is expected to strengthen Karnataka’s already dominant position in medical education in India.Addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, Patil, who holds the medical education portfolio, said the newly sanctioned seats will benefit students from several districts including Koppal, Gadag, Chamarajanagar, Karwar and Cauvery region. He said the expansion will help improve access to medical education in both urban and rural parts of Karnataka, thereby addressing the long-standing demand for more seats.The state will get a grant of Rs 495 crore from the central government for undergraduate medical education. Additionally, Rs 541 crore will be allocated for postgraduate medical seats, taking the total financial assistance to Rs 1,090 crore. Patil said this investment will significantly enhance the infrastructure, faculty strength and training facilities in medical colleges across the state.According to him, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare gave its final approval on May 15. He said the allocation of more than 1,000 medical seats to a single state is a record achievement and reflects Karnataka’s steady progress in the health education sector.Patil further said that Karnataka now offers expanded opportunities for students aiming to pursue a career in medicine, and urged candidates to make full use of the increased availability of seats and better educational infrastructure.